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OF    THE 


KEV.  JOHN  NEWTON,     7\ 


LATE  RECTOR  OF  THE  UNITED  PARISHES 


OF 

ST.  MARY  WOOLNOTHy 

AND 

MARY  WOOLCHURCH HAW.  LOMBARD  STBBET 

WITH 

GENERAL  REMARKS 

ON 

HIS  I      B,  CONNEXIONS,  AND  CHARACTER 


y 


BY  RICHARD  CECIL,  A.  M. 

Minister  of  St.  John's,  Bedford  Row. 


NEW-YORK  : 
PUBLISHED  BY  THOMAS  A.  RONALDS, 
BOOKSELLER  AND  STATIONER, 
•    No.  188,  Pearl  Street. 

1809. 


/.  *OtTVItf&;.  PBINTER,  PHILADELPHIA 


PREFACE 


TO    THE 


SECOND  LONDON  EDITION 

THE  Memoirs  of  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Bromley  Cadogan,  and  those  of  John  Ba- 
con, Esq.  were  written  at  the  particular  re- 
quest of  their  relations.  But  in  publishing 
these  of  the  late  Rev.  John  Newton,  I  profess 
myself  a  volunteer ;  and  my  motives  were  the 
following : — When  I  perceived  my  venerable 
friend  bending  under  a  weight  of  years,  and 
considered  how  soon,  from  the  very  course  of 
nature  the  world  must  lose  so  valuable  an  in- 
structor and  example — When  I  reflected  how 
common  it  is  for  hasty  and  inaccurate  accounts 
of  extraordinary  characters  to  be  obtruded  on 
the  public  by  venal  writers,  whenever  more  au- 
thentic documents  are  wanting — Above  all, 
when  I  considered  how  striking  a  display  such 
a  life  affords  of  the  nature  of  true  religion — of 
the  power  of  divine  grace — of  the  mysterious 
but  all-wise  course  of  Divine  Providence — 
and  of  the  encouragement  afforded  for  our  do. 


a<  PREFACE. 

pcndance  upon  that  Providence  in  the  most 
trying  circumstances— I  say,  on  these  accounts 
I  felt  that  the  leading  Features  of  such  a  cha- 
racter should  not  be  neglected,  whilst  it  was 
easy  to  authenticate  them  correctly. 

Besides  which,  I  have  observed  a  want  of 
books  of  a  certain  class  for  young  people  ;  and 
have  often  been  inquired  of  by  Christian  pa- 
rents for  publications  that  might  amuse  their 
families,  and  yet  tend  to  promote  their  best  in- 
terests :  the  number,  however,  of  this  kind 
which  I  have  seen,  and  that  appeared  unexcep- 
tionable, is  but  small.  For,  as  the  characters 
and  sentiments  of  some  men  become  moral 
blights  in  society — men  whose  mouths  seldom 
open  but,  like  that  of  sepulchres,  they  discov- 
er the  putridity  they  contain,  and  infect  more 
or  less  whoever  ventures  within  their  baneful 
influence ;  so  the  reformed  subject  of  these 
Memoirs  was  happily  a  remarkable  instance  of 
the  reverse  :  the  change  that  took  place  in  his 
heart,  after  such  a  course  of  profligacy,  af- 
fords a  convincing  demonstration  of  the  truth 


PREFACE. 


and  force  of  Christianity.  Instead  of  proceed- 
ing as  a  blight  in  society,  he  became  a  bles- 
sing ;  his  future  course  was  a  striking  example 
of  the  beneficial  eficcis  of  the  Gospel  ;  and 
that,  not  only  from  the  pulpit,  and  by  his  pen, 
but  also  by  his  conversation  in  the  large  circle 
of  his  acquaintance,  of  which  there  is,  yet  li- 
ving, a  multitude  of  witnesses. 

Impressed,  therefore,  with  the  advantage 
which  I  conceived  would  result  from  the  pub- 
lication of  these  Memoirs,  I  communicated 
my  design  some^years  ago  to  Mr.  N. — What- 
ever tended  to  promote  that  cause  in  which  his 
heart  had  been  long  engaged,  I  was  sure  would 
not  fail  to  obtain  his  concurrence.  He  accord- 
ingly promised  to  afford  whatever  materials 
might  be  necessary  beyond  those  which  his 
printed  Narrative  contained.  He  promised 
also  to  read  over  and  revise  whatever  was  add- 
ed from  my  xnvn  observation  ;  and  he  soon  af- 
ter brought  me  an  account  in  writing,  contain- 
ing every  thing  memorable  which  he  recollect- 
ed before  the  commencement  of  his  Narrative. 
A  2 


0  PREFACE. 

1  shall,  therefore,  detain  the  reader  no  longer 
than  to  assure  him  that  the  whole  of  the  follow- 
ing Memoirs,  (except  what  relates  to  Mr.  N.'s 
character,)  was  submitted  to  him  in  MS- 
while  he  was  capable  of  correcting  it,  and  recei- 
ved his  sanction. 

April  1808, 


MEMOIRS 


OF    THE 


REV.  JOHN  NEWTON. 


THESE  Memoirs  seem  naturally  to  cor^ 
mence  with  the  account  mentioned  in  the  Pr^ 
face  and  which  I  here  transcribe  : 

"  I  was  born  in  London  the  24th  of  July 
1725,  old  style.  My  parents  though  not  weal- 
thy were  respectable.  My  father  was  many 
years  master  of  a  ship  in  the  Mediterranean 
trade.  In  the  year  1748  he  went  Governour 
of  York  Fort  in  Hudson's  Bay,  wrhere  he 
died  in  the  year  1750." 

"  My  mother  was  a  dissenter,  a  pious  wo- 
man, and  a  member  of  the  late  Dr.  Jennings' 
church.  She  was  of  a  weak,  consumptive  ha-, 
bit,  loved  retirement,  and  as  I  was  her  only 
child,  she  made  it  the  chief  business  and  plea- 
sure of  her  life  to  instruct  me,  and  bring  me  up 
in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  I 
have  been  told,  that  from 'my  birth  she  had,  in 
her  mind,  devoted  me  to  the  ministry,  and  that. 


8  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

had  she  lived  till  I  was  of  a  proper  age,  I  was 
to  have  been  sent  to  St.  Andrews  in  Scotland 
to  be  educated.  But  the  Lord  had  appointed 
otherwise.  My  mother  died  before  I  was  se- 
ven years  of  age. 

"  I  was  rather  of  a  sedentary  turn,  net  active 
and  playful,  as  boys  commonly  are,  but  seem- 
ed as  willing  to  learn,  as  my  mother  was  to 
teach  me.  I  had  some  capacity,  and  a  reten- 
tive memory.  When  I  was  four  years  old,  I 
€l>uld  read,  (hard  names  excepted)  as  well  as  I 
can  now,  and  could  likewise  repeat  the  answers 
to  the  questions  in  the  Assembly's  Shorter 
Catechism,  with  the  proofs  ;  and  all  Dr.  Watts' 
smaller  Catechisms,  and  his  Children's  Hymns. 

"  When  my  father  returned  from  sea,  after 
iny  mother's  death,  he  married  again.  My 
new  mother  was  the  daughter  of  a  substantial 
grazier  at  Avely  in  Essex — She  seemed  wil- 
ling to  adopt  and  bring  me  up,  but  after  two 
or  three  years,  she  had  a  son  of  her  own  who 
engrossed  the  old  gentleman's  notice.  My  fa- 
ther was  a  very  sensible,  and  a  moral  man,  as 
the  world  rates  morality,  but  neither  he,  nor 
my  step-mother  were  under  the  impressions  of 
religion  ;  I  was,  therefore,  much  left  to  myself, 
to  mingle  with  idle  and  wicked  boys,  and  soon 
learnt  their  ways. 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  V 

"  I  never  was  at  school  but  about  two  years, 
(from  my  eighth  to  my  tenth  year  ;)  it  was  a 
boarding-school  at  Stratford  in  Essex .  Though 
my  father  left  me  much  to  run  about  the  streets, 
yet,  when  under  his  eye,  he  kept  me  at  a  great 
distance.  I  am  persuaded  he  loved  me,  but  he 
seemed  not  willing  that  I  should  know  it.  I 
was  with  him  in  a  state  of  fear  and  bondage. 
His  sternness,  together  with  the  severity  of  my 
schoolmaster,  broke  and  overawed  my  spirit, 
and  almost  made  me  a  dolt ;  so  that  part  of  the 
two  years  I  w^as  at  school,  instead  of  making  a 
progress,  I  nearly  forgot  all  that  my  good  mo- 
ther had  taught  me. 

"  The  day  I  was  eleven, years  old,  I  went 
on  board  my  father's  ship  in  Long-reach.  I 
made  five  voyages  with  him  to  the  Mediter- 
ranean. In  the  course  of  the  last  voyage  he 
left  me  some  months  at  Alicant  in  Spain,  with 
a  merchant,  a  particular  friend  of  his ;  with 
him  I  might  have  done  well,  if  I  had  behaved 
well.  But  by  this  time,  my  sinful  propensi- 
ties had  gathered  strength  by  habit :  I  was  ve- 
ry wicked,  and  therefore  very  foolish;  and  be- 
ing my  own  enemy,  I  seemed  determined 
that  nobody  should  my  friend. 

"  My  father  left  the  sea,  in  the  year  1742, 
I  made  one  voyage  afterwards  to  Venice  before 


10  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

the  mast,  and  soon  after  my  return  was  im- 
pressed  on  board  the  Harwich. — Then  began 
my  awfully  mad  career  as  recorded  in  the  Nar- 
rative ;  to  which,  and  to  the  Letters  to  a  Wife, 
I  must  refer  you  for  any  farther  dates  and  in- 
cidents, ^i 

"  I  am  truly  yours, 

"  John  Newton." 
"Dec.  19,  1795." 

A  few  articles  may  be  added  to  this  account 
from  the  Narrative,  where  we  find  that  his 
pious  mother  "  stored  his  memory  with  whole 
chapters  and  smaller  portions  of  Scripture,  ca- 
techisms, hymns,  and  poems;  and  often  com- 
mended him  with  many  prayers  and  tears  to  God 
— also  that  in  his  sixth  year  he  began  to  learn 
Latin,  though  the  intended  plan  of  his  educa- 
tion was  soon  broken — and  that  he  lost  this 
valuable  parent,  July  11th,  1732." 

We  also  find  that,  after  his  father's  second 
marriage,  he  was  sent  to  the  school  above- 
mentioned,  and  in  the  last  of  the  two  years  he 
spent  there,  a  new  usher  came;  who  obser- 
ving and  suiting  his  temjper,  he  prosecuted 
Latin  with  great  eagerness,  and  before  he  was 
ten  years  old,  he  had  reached  and  maintained 
the  first  post  in  the  second  class,  which  in  that 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  1  i 

school  was  Tully  and  Virgil. — But  by  be 
pushed    forward   too    fast   and  not   property 
grounded,  (a  method  too  common  in  inferiour 
schools)  he  soon  lost  all  he  had  learned. 

In  the  next  and  most  remarkable  period  of 
„Mr.  N.'s  life,  we  must  be  conducted  by  the 
Narrative  above-mentioned.  It  has  been 
observed,  that  at  eleven  years  of  age  he  w^s 
taken  by  his  father  to  sea.  His  father  was  a 
man  of  remarkable  good  sense,  and  great 
knowledge  of  the  world ;  he  took  much  care 
of  his  son's  morals,  but  could  not  supply  a 
mother's  part.  The  father  had  been  educated 
at  a  Jesuit's  college  near  Seville  in  Spain,  and 
had  an  air  of  such  distance  and  severity  in  his 
carriage,  as  discouraged  his  son,  who  always 
was  in  fear  when  before  him,  and  which  de- 
prived him  of  that  influence  he  might  otl 
wise  have  had. 

From  this  time  to  the  year  1742  Mr.  N. 
made  several  voyages,  but  at  considerable  in- 
tervals :  these  intervals  were  chiefly  spent  in 
the  country,  excepting  a  few  months  in  his 
fifteenth  year,  when  he  was  placed  with  a  verj 
advantageous  prospect  at  Alicant  already -men* 
tioned. 

About  this  period  of  his  life,  with  a  tern 
per  and  conduct  exceedingly  various,  he  v 


12  MEMOIRS   OP    THE 

often  disturbed  with  religious  convictions, 
and  being  from  a  child  fond  of  reading,  he 
met  with  Bennet's  Christian  Oratory,  and 
though  he  understood  little  of  it,  the  course 
of  life  it  recommended  appeared  very  desi- 
rable. He  therefore  began  to  pray,  to  read 
the  Scriptures,  to  keep  a  diary,  and  thought 
himself  religious ;  but  soon  became  weary 
of  it,  and  gave  it  up.  He  then  learned  to 
curse  and  to  blaspheme,  and  was  exceed- 
ingly wicked  when  out  of  the  view  of  his  pa- 
rents, though  at  so  early  a  period. 

Upon  his  being  thrown  from  a  horse  near  a 
dangerous  hedge-row,  newly  cut,  his  con- 
science suggested  to  him  the  dreadful  conse- 
quences of  appearing  in  such  a  state  before 
God.  This  put  him,  though  but  for  a  time, 
upon  breaking  off  these  profane  practices  ;  but 
the  consequence  of  these  struggles  between 
sin  and  conscience,  was,  that  on  every  relapse 
he  sunk  into  still  greater  depts  of  wickedness. 
He  was  roused  again,  by  the  loss  of  a  compa- 
nion who  had  agreed  to  go- with  him  one  Sun- 
day on  board  a  man  of  war.  Mr.  N.  provi- 
dentially coming  too  late,  the  boat  had  gone 
without  him,  and  was  overset,  by  which  his 
companion  and  several  others  were  drowned. 
He  was  exceedingly  affected  at  the  funeral  of 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTC 

his  companion,  to  think  that  by  the  delay  c 
few  minutes,  (which  at-  the  time  occasioned 
much  anger,)  his  life  had  been  preserved  :  but. 
this  also  was  soon  forgotten.  The  perusal  oi 
the  Family  Instructor  produced  another  tern- 
porary  reformation.  In  short,  he  took  up  and 
laid  aside  a  religious  profession  three  or  four 
different  times,  before  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age. 

"  All    this  while,"     says  he,    "  my  heart 
was   insincere.     I   often  saw  the  necessity  of 
religion,   as  a  means  of  escaping  hell  ;  but  1 
loved  sin  and  was  unwilling  to  forsake  it — I  was 
so  strangely  blind  and  stupid,  that  sometimes, 
when   I  have   been    determined  upon  things 
which  I  knew  were  sinful,  I  could  not  go  on 
quietly  till  I  had  first  dispatched  my  ordinary 
task  of  prayer,  in  which  I  have  grudged  every 
moment  of  the  tim~  ;  when  this  was  finished, 
my  conscience  was  in  some  measure  pacified, 
and  I  could  rush  into  folly  with  little  remorse." 
But  his  last  reform  was  the   most  remarkable* 
14  Of  this  period,"  says  he,   "  at  least  of  some 
part  of  it,  I  may  say  in  the  Apostle's  words,  Af- 
ter the  strictest  sect  of  our  religion.  Hived  a  Pha- 
risee.   I  did  every  thing  that  might  be  expected 
from  a  person  entirely  ignorant  of  God's  right- 
eousness, and  desirous  to  establish  his  own*    J 

B 


14  ,  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

spent  the  greatest  part  of  every  day  in  reading 
the  Scriptures,  and  in  meditation,  and  prayer. 
I  fasted  often  :  I  even  abstained  from  all  ani- 
mal food  for  three  months.  I  would  hardly  an- 
swer a  question  for  fear  of  speaking  an  idle 
word  :  I  seemed  to  bemoan  my  former  miscar- 
riages very  earnestly,  and  sometimes  with 
tears :  in  short  I  became  an  ascetic,  and  en- 
deavoured, as  far  as  my  situation  wrouid  per- 
mit, to  renounce  society,  that  I  might  avoid 
temptation." 

This  reformation,  it  seems,  continued  for 
more  than  two  years.  But  he  adds,  "  it  was 
a  poor  religion  ;  it  left  me  in  many  respects 
under  the  power  of  sin,  and  so  far  as  it  prevailed, 
only  tended  to  make  me  gloomy,  stupid,  unso- 
ciable,   and  useless." 

That  it  was  a  poor  religion,  and  quite  unlike 
that  which  he  afterwards  possessed,  will  appear 
from  what  immediately  follows  :  for,  had  it 
been  taken  up  upon  more  scriptural  ground, 
and  been  attended  with  that  internal  evidence 
and  satisfaction  which  true  religion  only  brings, 
he  could  not  so  soon  have  fallen  a  dupe  to 
such  a  writer  as  Shaftsbury.  It  was  at  a  petty 
shop  at  Middleburgh,  in  Holland,  that  he  first 
met  with  a  volume  of  the  Characteristics.  The 
declamation  called  by  his  Lordship,   a  Rhup- 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  15 

sody,  suited  the  romantic  turn  of  his  mind. 
Unaware  of  its  tendency,  he  imagined  he  had 
found  a  valuable  guide.  This  book  was  al- 
ways in  his  hand,  till  he  could  nearly  repeat 
the  Rhapsody.  Though  it  produced  no  im- 
mediate effect,  it  operated  like  a  slow  poison, 
and  prepared  the  way  for  all  that  followed. 

About  the  year  1742,  having  lately  come 
from  a  voyage,  his  father  not  intending  to  re- 
turn to  sea,  was  contriving  for  Mr.  N.'s  set- 
tlement in  the  world.  But  to  settle  a  youth 
who  had  no  spirit  for  business,  who  knew  but 
little  of  men  or  things,  who  was  of  a  romantic 
turn  : — a  medley,  as  he  expressed  it,  of  reli- 
gion, philosophy,  and  indolence,  and  quite 
averse  to  order,  must  prove  a  great  difficulty. 
At  length  a  merchant  in  Liverpool,  an  inti- 
mate friend  fl£  the  father,  and  afterwards  a 
singular  friend  to  the  son,  offered  to  send  him 
for  some  years  to  Jamaica,  and  undertook  the 
charee  of  his  future  welfare.  This  was  con- 
consented  to,  and  preparation  made  for  the 
voyage,  which  was  to  be  prosecuted  the  fol- 
lowing week.  In  the  mean  time,  he  was  sent  by 
his  father  on  some  business  to  a  place,  a  few 
miles  beyond  Maidston  in  Kent.  But  the 
journey,  which  was  designed  to  last  but  three 
or  four  days,  gave  such  a  turn  to  his  mind,   as 


16  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

roused  him  from  his  habitual  indolence,  and 
produced  a  series  of  important  and  interesting 
occurrences. 

A  few  days  before  this  intended  journey,  he 
received  an  invitation  to  visit  some  distant  re- 
lations in  Kent.  They  were  particular  friends 
of  his  Mother,  who  died  at  their  house  ,  but  a 
coolness  having  taken  place  upon  his  father's 
second  marriage,  all  intercourse  between  them 
had  ceased.  As  his  road  lay  within  half  a  mile 
of  the  house,  and  he  had  obtained  his  father's 
leave  to  call  on  them,  he  went  thither,  and  met 
with  the  kindest  reception  from  these  friends. 
• — They  had  two  daughters  ;  it  seems  the 
elder  had  been  intended,  by  both  the  mothers, 
for  his  future  wife,  Almost  at  the  first  sight 
of  this  girl,  then  under  fourteen  years  of  age, 
he  was  impressed  with  such  ^affection  for 
her,  as  appears  to  have  equalled  all  that  the 
writers  cf  romance  have  imagined. 

u  I  soon  lost,"  says  he,  "  ail  sense  of  reli- 
gion, and  became  deaf  to  the  remonstrances 
of  conscience  and  prudence,  but  my  regard  for 
her  was  always  the  same ;  and  I  may,  per- 
haps, venture  to  say,  that  none  of  the  scenes 
of  misery  mid  wickedness  I  afterwards  experi- 
enced, ever  banished  her  a  single  hour  to- 
gether from  my  waking  thoughts  for  the  seven 
following  years, 


HEV.    JOHN     NEW'I.  17 

His  heart  being  now  melted  to  a  particular 
©bject,  e\  ery  thing  with  which  he  was  concern- 
ed, appeared  in  a  new  light.  He  could  not  now 
bear  the  thought  of  living  at  such  a  distance  as 
Jamaica,  for  four  or  five  years,  and  therefore  de- 
termined not  to  go  thither.  He  dared  not  com- 
municate with  his  father  on  this  point,  but  in- 
stead of  three  days,  he  staid  three  weeks  in 
Kent,  till  the  ship  had  sailed,  and  then  he  return- 
ed to  London.  His  Father,  though  highly  dis- 
pleased, became  reconciled,  and  in  a  little  time 
he  sailed  with  a  friend  of  his  father's  to  Ve- 
nice. 

In  this  voyage,  being  a  common  sailor,  and 
exposed  to  the  company  of  his  comrades,  he 
began  to  relax  from  the  sobriety  which  he  had 
preserved,  in  some  degree,  for  more  than  two 
years.  Sometimes,  pierced  with  convictions, 
he  made  a  few  faint  efforts  as  formerly  to  stop  ; 
and  though  not  yet  absolutely  profligate,  he 
was  making  large  strides  towards  a  total  apos- 
tasy from  God.  At  length,  he  received  a  re- 
markable check  by  a  dream,  which  made  a 
very  strong,  though  not  abiding,  impression 
upon  his  mind. 

I  shall  relate  this    dream  in  his  own  words, 
referring  to  the  Narrative  those  who  wish 
to  know  his  opinion  of  dreams,  and  his  appli- 
b  2 


MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

cation  of  this  one  in  particular,  to  his  own  cir- 
cumstances : 

"  The  scene  presented  to  my  imagination, 
was  the  harbour  of  Venice,  where  we  had 
lately  been.  I  thought  it  was  night,  and  my 
watch  upon  the  deck ;  and  that  as  I  w as  walking 
to  and  fro  by  myself,  a  person  came  to  me  (I 
do  not  femember  from  whence^,  and  brought 
me  a  ring,  with  an  express  charge  to  keep 
it  carefully  ;  assuring  me  that  while  I  pre- 
served that  ring,  I  should  be  happy  and  suc- 
cessful :  but  if  I  lost  or  parted  with  it,  I  must 
expect  nothing  but  trouble  and  misery. — I 
accepted  the  present  and  the  terms  willingly, 
not  in  the  least  doubting  my  own  care  to 
preserve  it,  and  highly  satisfied*  to  have  my 
happiness  in  my  own  keeping.  I  was  en- 
gaged in  these  thoughts,  when  &  second  per- 
son came  to  me,  and  observing  the  ring  on 
my  finger,  took  occasion  to  ask  me  some  ques- 
tions concerning  it.  I  readily  told  him  its  vir- 
tues, and  his  answer  expressed  a  surprise  at  my 
weakness,  in  expecting  such  effects  from  a  ring. 
I  think  he  reasoned  with  me  some  time,  upon 
the  impossibility  of  the  thing,  and  at  length  told 
me,  in  direct  terms,  to  throw  it  away.  At  first 
I  was  shocked  at  the  proposal,  but  his  insinua- 
tions prevailed,     I  began  to  reason  and  doubt, 


REV.    JOHX     NEWTON.  19 

and  at  last  pluked  it  oft'  r  i  r,  and  drop i 

it  over  the  ship's  side  into  the  water,  which  it 
had  no  sooner  touched,  than  I  saw  at  the  same 
instant,  a  terrible  fire  burst  out  from  a  range  of 
mountains  (a  part  of  the  Alps),  which  ap- 
peared at  some  distance  behind  the  city  of 
Venice.  I  sawr  the  hills  as  distinct  as  if  a- 
wakc,  and  that  they  I  in  flames.     I  per- 

ceived, too  late,  my  foliy  ;  and  my  tempter, 
with  an  air  of  insult,  informed  me,  that  all  the 
mercy  God  had  in  reserve  for  me,  was  compri- 
sed in  that  ring,  which  I  had  wilfully  thrown 
I  understood  that  I  must  now  go  with 
him  to  the  burning  mountains,  and  that  all  the 
flames  I  saw  wrere  kindled  on  my  account.  I 
trembled,  and  was  in  a  great  agony  ;  so  that  it 
was  surprising  I  did  not  then  awake,  but  i 
dream  continued,  and  when  I  thought  myself 
upon  the  point  of  a  constrained  departs 
and  stood  self- condemned,  without  plea  or 
hope,  suddenly,  either  a  third  person,  or  the 
same  who  brought  the  ring  at  first  (I  am  not 
certain  which),  came  to  me,  and  demanded 
the  cause  of  my  grief.  I  told  him  the  plain 
case,  confessing  that  I  had  ruined  myself 
wilfully,  and  deserved  no  pity.  He  blamed 
my  rashness,  and  asked  if  I  should  be  wiser. 


20  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

supposing  I  had  my  ring  again.   I  could  hardly 
answer  to  this,  for  I  thought  it  was  gone  be- 
yond recall.     I  believe,  indeed,  I  had  not  time 
to  answer,  before  I  saw  this  unexpected  friend 
go  down   under  the  water,  just   in  the  spot 
where  I  had  dropped  it,  and  he  soon  returned 
bringing  the    ring  with  him  :  the  moment  he 
came  onboard,  the  flames  in  the  mountains  were 
extinguished,  and  my  seducer  left  me.     Then 
was  the  prey  taken  from  the  hand  of  the  mighty, 
and  the    lawful   captive  delivered.     My  fears 
were  at  an   end,  and   with  joy  and  gratitude 
I    approached   my   kind   deliverer  to  receive 
the  ring  again  ;  but  he  refused  to  return  it,  and 
spoke  to  this  effect :  "  If  you  should  be  entrust- 
"  ed  with  this  ring  again,  you  would  very  soon 
"  bring  yourself  into  the    same  distress;  you 
u  are  not  able  to  keep  it,  but  I  will  preserve 
"  it  for  you,    and  whenever  it  is  needful,  will 
6 '  produce   it  in  your  behalf." — Upon  this  I 
awoke,  in  a  state  of  mind  not  to  be  described  : 
I  could  hardly  eat,  or   sleep,  or  transact  my 
necessary  business  for  two  or  three  days  :  but 
the  impression    soon  wore  off,  and  in  a  little 
time  I  totally  forgot   it ;  and  I  think  it  hardly 
occurred  to  my  mind  again  till  several    years 
afterwards." 


U£V,    JOHN     NEWTON. 

Nothing  remarkable  occurred  in  the  follow- 
ing part  of  that  voyage.  Mr.  N.  returned 
home  in  December  1743,  and  repeating  his 
visit  to  Kent,  protracted  his  stay  in  the  same 
imprudent  manner  he  had  done  before.  This 
so  disappointed  his  Father's  designs  for  his  in- 
terest, as  almost  induced  him  to  disown  his 
son.  Before  any  thing  suitable  offered  again, 
this  thoughtless  son,  unmindful  of  the  conse- 
quences of  appearing  in  a  check'd  shirt,  was 
marked  by  a  Lieutenant  of  the  Harwich  Man 
of  war,  who  immediately  imj  essed  and  car- 
ried him  on  board  a  tender.  This  was  at  a 
critical  juncture,  as  the  French  Fleets  were 
hovering  upon  our  coast;  so  that  his  Father 
was  incapable  of  procuring  his  release.  A 
few  days  after,  he  was  sent  on  board  the  Har- 
wich at  the  Nore.  Here  a  new  scene  of  life 
was  presented,  and  for  about  a  month,  much 
hardship  endured.  As  a  war  was  daily  expect- 
ed, his  Father  was  willing  he  should  remain 
in  the  navy,  and  procured  him  a  recommen- 
dation to  the  Captain,  who  sent  him  upon  the. 
quarter  deck  as  a  midshipman.  He  might 
now  have  had    ease  and  respect,    had   it  not 

in  for  his   unsettled   mind,  and   indiffen 
behaviour.      The   companions    he  met    with 
here,    completed   the  ruin  of  his   principle 


~2  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

though  he  affected  to  talk  of  virtue,  and  pre- 
served some  decency,  yet  his  delight  and  ha- 
bitual practice  was  wickedness. 

His  principal   companion  was  a  person   of 
talents  and  observation,  an  expert  and  plausi- 
ble infidel,   whose  zeal  was   equal   to   his  ad- 
dress.    "  I    have    been   told,"    says   Mr.  N. 
"  that  afterwards  he  was  overtaken  in  a  voy- 
age from  Lisbon  in  a  violent  storm  ;  the  ves- 
sel and  people  escaped,  but  a  great   sea  broke 
onboard,   and  swept  him  into   Eternity." — 
Being  fond  of  this   man's  company,  Mr.  N. 
aimed  to  discover  what  smattering  of  reading 
he  had  :  his  companion,   perceiving  that  Mr. 
N.  had  not  Idst  all  the  restraints  of  conscience, 
at  first   spoke   in  favour  of  religion  ;    and  ha- 
ving gained  Mr.    N.'s   confidence,    and  per- 
ceiving his  attachment  to  the  Characteristics, 
he  soon  convinced  his  pupil  that  he  had  never 
understood  that  book.     By  objections  :~nd  ar- 
guments Mr.  N.'s   depraved  heart  was   soon 
gained.     He  plunged  into  infidelity  with  all  his 
spirit,  and  like  an  unwary  sailor  who  quits  his 
post  just  before  a  rising  storm,  the  hopes  and 
comforts  of  the  Gospel  were  renounced  at  the 
very  time  when  every  other  comfort  was  about 
to  fail. 

In  December  1744,  the  Harwich  was  in  the 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON. 

Downs,  bound  to  the  East  Indies.  The  Cap. 
tain  gave  Mr.  X.  leave  to  go  on  shore  fo 
day  ;  but,  with  his  usual  inconsideration,  and 
following  the  dictates  of  a  restless  passion,  he 
went  to  take  a  last  leave  of  the  object  vi  ith 
which  he  was  so  infatuated. — Little  satisfac- 
tion attended  the  interview  in  such  circum- 
stances, and  on  new  year's  day  he  returned 
to  the  ship.  The  Captain  was  so  highly  dis- 
pleased at  this  rash  step,  that  it  occasioned 
ever  after  the  loss  of  his  favour. 

At  length  they  sailed  from  Spithead,  with 
a  very  large  fleet.  They  put  in  to  Torb.iy, 
with  a  change  of  wind,  but  sailed  the  next 
day,  on  its  becoming  fair.  Several  of  the 
fleet  were  lost  at  leaving  the  place,  but  the 
following  night  the  whole  fleet  was  greatlv  en- 
dangered upon  the  coast  of  Cornwall  b 
storm  from  the  southward.  The  Ship  on 
which  Mr.  N.  was  aboard,  escaped  unhn 
though  several  times  in  danger  of  being  run 
down  by  other  vessels  ;  but  many  suffered 
much  :  this  occasioned  their  putting  back  to 
Plymouth. 

While  they  lay  at  Plymouth,  Mr.  X.  heard 
that  his  Father,  who  had  an  interest  in  some 
of  the  ships  latelyJWost,  was  come  down  to 
Torbay.     lie  thought  that,,  if  he  could  sec 


24  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

Father,  he  might  easily  be  introduced  into  a 
service  which  would  be  better  than  pursuing 
a  long  and  uncertain  voyage  to  the  East  In- 
dies. It  was  his  habit  in  those  unhappy  days, 
never  to  deliberate  ;  as  soon  as  the  thought  oc- 
curred, he  resolved  to  leave  the  ship  at  all 
events  :  he  did  so,  and  in  the  worst  manner 
possible.  He  was  sent  one  day  in  the  boat  to 
prevent  others  from  desertion,  but  betrayed 
his  trust,  and  deserted  himself:  not  knowing 
which  road  to  take,  and  fearing  to  inquire, 
lest  he  should  be  suspected,  yet  having  some 
general  idea  of  the  country, "he  found,  after  he 
had  travelled  some  miles,  that  he  was  on  the 
road  to  Dartmouth.  That  day  and  part  of  the 
next,  every  thing  seemed  to  go  on  smoothly. 
He  walked  fast,  and  thought  to  have  seen  his 
Father  in  about  two  hours,  when  he  was  met 
by  a  small  party  of  soldiers,  whom  he  could 
not  avoid  or  deceive  :  they  brought  him  back 
to  Plymouth,  through  the  streets  of  which  he 
proceeded  guarded  like  a  felon.  Full  of  in- 
dignation, shame,  and  fear,  he  was  confined 
two  days  in  the  guard-house,  then  sent  on 
ship-board,  and  kept  awhile  in  irons  ;  next  he 
was  publicly  stript  and  whipl,  degraded  from 
his  office^  and  all  his  forlner  companions  for- 
bidden to  show  him  the  least  favourf  or  even 


B  EV.  JOHN    NEWTON. 

to  speak  to  him.  As  Midshipman  he  had  lx 
entitled  to  command,  in  which  (being  suffi- 
ciently haughty  and  vain)  he  had  not  been 
temperate  ;  but  was  now  in  his  turn  brought 
down  to  a  level  with  the  lowest,  and  exposed 
to  the  insults  of  all. 

The  state  of  his  mind  at  this  time  can  only 
be  properly  expressed  in  his  own  words  : 

"  As  my  present  situation  was  uncomforta- 
ble, my  future  prospects  were  still  worse  ;  the 
evils   I  suffered  were  likely  to  grow  heavier 
every  day.     While  my  catastrophe  was  recent, 
the  officers   and  my  quondam   brethren  were 
something  disposed    to   screen    me    from   ill 
usage  ;  but,  during  the  little  time  I  remained 
with  them  afterwards,  I  found  them  cool  very 
fctst  in  their  endeavours  to  protect  me.     In- 
deed, they  could  not  avoid  such  conduct  with- 
out running  a  great  risk  of  sharing  with  me  :- 
for  the  Captain,   though  in  general  a  humane 
man,  who  behaved  very  well  to  the  shfyte  com- 
pany, was  almost  implacable  in  his  resentment, 
and  took  several  occasions  to  show  it,  and  the  . 
voyage  was  expected  to  be   (as  it  proved) 
five  years.     Yet  nothing  I  either  felt  or  fea 
distressed  me  so  much  as  to  see  myself   thus 
forcibly  torn  away  from  the  object  of   n\) 
C 


26  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

fections,  under  a  great  improbability  of  seeing 
her  again,  and  a  much  greater  of  returning  in 
such  a  manner  as  would  give  me  hope  of  see- 
ing her  mine* 

"  Thus  I  was  as  miserable  on  all  hands  as 
could  well  be  imagined.  My  breast  was  filled 
with  the  most  excruciating  passions,  eager 
desire,  bitter  rage,  and  black  despair.  Every 
hour  exposed  me  to  some  new  insult,  and  hard- 
ship, with  no  hope  of  relief  or  mitigation  ;  no 
friend  to  take  my  part,  nor  to  listen  to  my  com- 
plaint. Whether  I  looked  inward  or  outward, 
I  could  perceive  nothing  but  darkness  and 
misery.  I  think  no  case,  except  that  of  a  con- 
science wounded  by  the  wrath  of  God,  could 
be  more  dreadful  than  mine  ;  I  cannot  express 
with  wrhat  wishfulness  and  regret,  I  cast  my 
last  looks  upon  the  English  shore  ;  I  kept  my 
eyes  fixed  upon  it,  till  the  ship's  distance  in- 
creasing, it  insensibly  disappeared  ;  and  when  I 
could  see  it  no  longer,  I  was  tempted  to  throw 
myself  into  the  sea,  which  (according  to  the 
wicked  system  I  had  adopted)  would  put  a 
period  to  all  my  sorrows  at  once.  But  the 
secret  hand  of  God  restrained  me." 

During  his  passage  to  Madeira,  Mr.  N. 
describes  himself  as  a  prey  to  he  most  gloomy 
thoughts  ;  though   he  had  deserved  all,  and 


REV.    JOHN     NEW  TON".  27 

more  than  all  he  had  met  with  from  the  Cap- 
tain, yet  pride  suggested  that  he  had  been 
grossly  injured  ;  "  and  this  so  far,"  - 
"  wrought  upon  my  wicked  heart,  that  I  ac- 
tually forified  designs  against  his  life,  and 
that  was  one  reason  which  made  me  willing  to 
prolong  my  own.  I  was  sometimes  divided 
between  the  two,  not  thinking  it  practicable 
to  ei  »h.     The  Lord  had  now  to  appear- 

ance given  me  up  to  Judicial  hardness  ;  I 
capable  of  any  thing.  I  had  not  the  least  fear 
of  God  before  my  eyes,  nor  (so  far  as  I  remem- 
ber) the  least  sensibility  of  conscience.  I  was 
possessed  with  so  strong  a  spirit  of  delusion, 
that  I  believed  my  own  lie,  and  was  firmly  per- 
suaded that  after  death  I  should  cease  to  be. 
— Yet  the  Lord  preserved  me  ! — Some  inter- 
vals of  sober  reflection  would  at  times  take 
place  :  when  I  have  chosen  death  rather  than 
life,  a  ray  of  hope  would  come  in  (though 
there  was  little  probability  for  such  a  hope) 
that  I  should  yet  see  better  days,  that  I  might 
return  to  England,  and  have  my  wishes  crown- 
ed, if  I  did  not  wilfully  throw  myself  away.  In 
a  word,  my  love  to  Mrs.  N.  was  now  the  only 
restraint  I  had  left  :  though  I  neither 
God,  nor  regarded  man,  I  could  not  bear  that 


28  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

she  should   thmk^  meanly  of  me,  when  I  was 
dead."  *    v 

Mr.  N.  had  now  been  at  Madeira  some- 
time ;  the  business  of  the  fleet  being  com- 
pleted, they  were  to  sail  the  following  day  : 
on  that  memorable  morning  he  happened  to  be 
late  in  bed,  and  would  have  continued  to  sleep, 
but  that  an  old  companion,  a  Midship- 
man, came  down  between  jest  and  earnest, 
and  bid  him  rise.  As  he  did  not  immediately 
comply,  the  Midshipman  cut  down  the  ham- 
mock in  which  he  lay  ;  this  obliged  him  to 
dress  himself :  and  though  very  angry,  he 
durst  not  resent  it,  but  was  little  aware  that  this 
person,  without  design,  was  a  special  instrument 
of  God's  providence.  Mr.  N.  said  little,  but 
went  upon  deck,  where  he  saw  a  man  putting 
his  own  clothes  into  a  boat  and  informed  Mr.  N. 
he  was  going  to  leave  the  ship.  Upon  inquiry, 
he  found  that  two  men  from  a  Guir  *  a  ship, 
which  lay  near  them,  had  entered  on  board 
the  Harwich,  and  that  the.  Commodore,  (the 
late  Sir  George  Pocock,)  had  ordered  the  Cap- 
tain to  send  two  others  in  their  room.  Infla- 
med with  this  information,  Mr.  N.  requested 
(hat  the  boat  might  be  detained  a  few  minutes ; 
he  then  entreated  the  Lieutenants  to  intercede 
with   the  Captain  that  he  might  be  dismissed 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  2V 

upon  this  occasion  :  though  he  had  fonm 
behaved  ill  to  these  Officers,  they  were  moved 
with  pity,  and  were  disposed  to  serve  him. 
The  Captain  who  had  refused  to  exchange  him 
at  Plymouth,  though  requested  by  Admiral 
Medley,  was  easily  prevailed  with  now.  In 
little  more  than  half  an  hour  from  his  beino:  a- 
sleep  in  bed,  he  found  himself  discharged, 
and  safe  on  board  another  Ship  :  the  events 
depending  upon  this  change,  will  shew  it  to 
have  been  the  most  critical  and  important. 

The  Ship  he  now^entered,  was  bound  to 
Sierra  Leone,  and  the  adjacent  parts  of  what 
is  called  the  windward  coast  of  Africa.  The 
commander  knew  his  father,  received  him 
kindly,  and  made  professions  of  assistance  ; 
and  probably  would  have  been  his  friend,  if, 
instead  of  profiting  by  his  former  errors,  he 
had  not  pursued  a  course,  if  possible,  worse. 
He  was  under  some  restraint  on  board  the 
Harwich,  but  being  now  among  strangers,  he 
could  sin  without  disguise. —  "I  well  remem- 
ber," says  he,  "  that  while  I  was  passing  from 
one  ship  to  the  other,  I  rejoiced  in  the  ex- 
change with  this  reflection,  that  I  might  tli 
-indoned  as  I  pleased,  withe 
id  from  this  time,    I  w  ulinglv 

g  short  of  • 
C  2 


JO  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

animated  description  of  an  almost  irrecove- 
rable state,  which  we  have  in  2  Peter,ii.  14 
I  not  only  sinned  with  a  high  hand  myself, 
but  made  it  my  study  to  tempt  and  seduce 
others  upon  every  occasion  :  nay,  I  eagerly 
sought  occasion,  sometimes  to  my  own  hazard 
and  hurt."  By  this  conducthe  soon  forfeited  the 
favour  of  his  Captain  :  for,  besides  being  care- 
less and  disobedient,  upon  some  imagined  af- 
front, he  employedhis  mischievous  wit  in  mak- 
ing a  song  to  ridicule  the  Captain  as  to  his  ship, 
his  designs,  and  his  person  ;  and  he  taught  it 
to  the  whole  ship's  company. 

He  thus  proceeded  for  about  six  months,  at 
which  time  the  ship  was  preparing  to  leave  the 
coast ;  but,  a  few  days  before  she  sailed,  the 
captain  died.  Mr.  N.  was  not  upon  much 
better  terms  with  his  mate,  who  succeeded  to 
the  command,  and  upon  some  occasion  had 
treated  him  ill.  He  felt  certain,  that  if  he  went 
in  the  ship  to  the  West  Indies,  the  mate  wrould 
have  put  him  on  board  a  Man  of  war,  a  conse- 
quence more  dreadful  to  him  than  death  itself : 
to  avoid  this,  he  determined  to  remain  in  Africa, 
and  pleased  himself  with  imagining  it  would  be 
an  opportunity  of  improving  his  fortune. 

Upon  that  part  of  the  coast  there  were  a  few 
white  men  settled,  whose  business  it  was  to 
purchase  slaves,  &c.  and  sell  them  to  the  ships 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  31 

at  an    advanced  price  ;  on€  of  these  who  had 
first   landed   in  circumstances  similar  to  Mr. 
N.\s  had  acquired  considerable  wealth.      This 
man  had  been  in  England,  and  was  returning 
in  the  same  vessel  with  Mr.  N.  of  which  he 
owned  a  quarter  part.     His  example  impressed 
Mr.   N.  with  hopes  of  the  same  success,   and 
he   obtained  his  discharge  upon  condition  of 
entering  into   the    trader's  service,  to  whose 
generosity   he  trusted  without  the   precaution 
of  terms.   He  received,  however,  no  compen- 
sation for  his  time  on  board  the  ship,   but  a 
bill  upon  the  Owners  in  England,  who  failing 
before  his  return,  the  bill  was  never  paid ;  the 
day,  therefore,  on  which  the  vessel   sailed,  he 
landed  upon  the  island  of  Benanoes  like  one 
ship- wrecked,  with  little  more  than  the  clothes 
upon  his  back. 

"  The  two  following  years,"  sayshe,  "  ofwhich 
I  am  now  to  give  some  account,  wrill  seem  as 
an  absolute  blank  in  my  life  :  but,  I  have  seen 
frequent  cause  since  to  admire  the  mercy  of 
God  in  banishing  me  to  those  distant  parts,  and 
almost  excluding  me  from  all  society  at  a  time 
when  I  was  big  with  mischief,  and,  like  one 
infected  with  a  pestilence,  was  capable  of 
spreading  a  taint  wherever  I  went. — But  the 
Lord  wisely  placed  me  where  I  could  do  little 
harm.     The  few  I  had  to  converse  writh  were 


$2  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

too  much  like  myself,  and  I  was  soon  brought 
into  such  abject  circumstances  that  I  was  too 
low.  to  have  any  influence.  I  was  rather  shun- 
ned and  despised  than  imitated,  there  being 
few  even  of  the  negroes  themselves,  during 
the  first  year  of  my  residence,  but  thought 
themselves  too  good  to  speak  to  me.  I  was 
as  yet  an  outcast,  ready  to  perish,  but  the 
Lord  beheld  me  with  mercy— he  even  now  bid 
me  live  ;  and  I  can  only  ascribe  it  to  his  secret 
upholding  power  that  what  I  suffered  in  a  part 
of  this  interval,  did  not  bereave  me  either  of 
mv  life  or  senses." 

The  reader  will  have  a  better  idea  of  the 
station  Mr.  N.  was  now  in,  by  his  brief  sketch 
of  it. 

"  From  Cape  de  Verd,  the  most  western 
point  of  Africa,  to  Cape  Mount,  the  whole 
coast  is  full  of  rivers :  the  principal  are  the 
Gambia,  Rio  Grande,  Sierra  Leone,  andSher- 
bro.  Of  the  former,  as  it  is  well  known,  and  as  I 
was  never  there,  I  need  say  nothing.  The  Rio 
Grande  (like  the  Nile)  divides  into  many  bran- 
ches near  the  sea.  On  the  most  northerly,  called 
Cacheo,  the  Portuguese  have  a  settlement.  The 
most  southern  branch,  known  by  the  name  of 
Rio  Nuna,  is,  or  was,  the  usual  boundary  of  the 
white  men's  trade  northward.  Sierra  Leone  is 
a  mountainous  peninsula,   uninhabited,   and  I 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  33 

believe  inaccessible,  upon  account  of  the  thick 
woods,  excepting  those  parts  which  lie  near 
the  water.  The  river  is  large  and  navigable. 
From  hence  about  twelve  leagues  to  the  south 
east,  are  three  contiguous  Islands,  called  the 
Benanoes,  twenty  miles  in  circuit :  this  was 
about  the  centre  of  the  white  men's  residence. 
Seven  leagues  farther  the  same  way,  lie  the 
Plantanes,  three  small  islands  two  miles  distant 
from  the  continent,  at  the  point  which  forms 
one  side  of  the  Sherbro.  This  river  is  more 
properly  a  sound,  running  within  a  long  island, 
and  receiving  the  confluence  of  several  large 
rivers,  '  rivers  unknown  to  song,'  but  far  more 
deeply  engraven  in  my  remembrance,  than  the 
Po  or  Tiber — The  southernmost  of  these  has 
a  very  peculiar  course  almost  parallel  to  the 
coast ;  so  that  in  tracing  it  a  great  many  leagues 
upwards,  it  will  seldom  lead  one  above  three 
miles,  and  sometimes  not  more  than  half  a 
mile  from  the  sea  shore." 

Mr.  N.'s  new  master  had  resided  near  Cape 
Mount,  but  at  this  time  had  settled  at  the  Plan- 
tanes on  the  largest  of  the  three  islands.  It  is  low 
and  sandy,  about  two  miles  in  circumference, 
and  almost  covered  with  palm-trees.  They 
immediately  began  to  build  a  house.  Mr.  N. 
had  some  desire  to  retrieve  his  time  and  cha- 


34  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

racter,  and  might  have  lived  tolerably  well, 
with  his  master,  if  this  man  had  not  been  much 
under  the  direction  of  a  black  woman,  who 
lived  with  him  as  a  wrife,  and  influenced  him 
against  his  new  servant.  She  was  a  person  of 
some  consequence  in  her  own  country,  and  he 
owed  his  first  rise  to  her  interest.  This  wo- 
man, for  reasons  not  konwn,  was  strangely 
prejudiced  against  Mr.  N.  from  the  first;  he 
also  had  unhappily  a  severe  fit  of  illness, 
which  attacked  him  before  he  had  opportunity 
to  shew  what  he  could  or  would  do  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  master.  Mr.  N.  wTas  sick  when  his 
master  sailed  in  a  shalop  to  Rio  Nuna,  and  was 
left  in  the  hands  of  this  woman.  He  was  ta- 
ken some  care  of  at  first,  but  not  soon  recover- 
ing, her  attention  was  wearied,  and  she  entire- 
ly neglected  him.  Sometimes  it  was  with  diffi- 
culty he  could  procure  a  draught  of  cold  wa- 
ter w^hen  burning  with  a  fever  !  His  bed  was  a 
mat,  spread  upon  a  board  or  chest,  with  a  log 
for  his  pillow.  Upon  his  appetite  returning 
after  the  fever  left  him,  he  would  gladly  have 
eaten,  but  uno  one  gave  unto  him."  She  liv- 
ed in  plenty,  but  scarcely  allowed  him  suffici- 
ent to  sustain  life,  except  now  and  then,  when 
in  the  highest  good  humour,  she  would  send 
him  victuals  in  her   own  plate  after  she  had 


REV.   JOHN    KEWTON. 

dined.    And  this  (so  greatly  was  he  humbK 
he  received  with  thanks  and  eagerness,  as  the 
most  needy  beggar  does  an  alms. 

"  Once,"  says  he,  "  I  well  remember,  I  was 
called  to  receive  this  bonnty  from  her  own  hand, 
but  being  exceedingly  weak  and  feeble,  I  drop- 
ped the  plate.  Those  who  live  in  plenty  can 
hardly  conceive  how  this  loss  touched  me  ;  but 
she  had  the  cruelty  to  laugh  at  my  disappoint- 
ment, and  though  the  table  was  covered  with 
dishes  (for  she  lived  much  in  the  Euro} 
manner,)  she  refused  to  give  me  any  more. 
My  distress  has  been  at  times  so  great  as  to 
compel  me  to  go  by  night,  and  pull  up  roots 
in  the  plantation  (though  at  the  risk  of  being 
punished  as  a  thief,)  which  I  have  eaten  raw  up- 
on the  spot,  for  fear  of  discovery.  The  n 
I  speak  of  are  very  wholesome  food,  when 
boiled  or  roasted,  but  as  unfit  to  be  eaten  raw 
in  auy  quantity  as  a  potatoe.  The  conse- 
quence of  this  diet,  which  after  the  first  expe- 
riment I  always  expected,  and  seldom  missed, 
was  the  same  as  if  I  had  taken  tartar  emetic  ; 
so  that  I  have  often  returned  as  empty  as  I 
went,  yet  necessity  urged  me  to  repeat  the  tri- 
al several  times.  I  have  sometimes  been  re- 
lieved by  strangers ;  yea  even  by  the  slaves  iu 
the  chain,   who  have  secretly  brought  me  vie- 


36  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

tuals  (for  they  durst  not  be  seen  to  do  it)  from 
their  own  slender  pittance.  Next  to  pressing 
want,  nothing  sits  harder  upon  the  mind,  than 
scorn  and  contempt,  and  of  this  likewise  I  had 
an  abundant  measure." 

When  slowly  recovering,  the  same  woman 
would  sometimes  pay  Mr.  N.  a  visit,  not  to 
pity  or  relieve,  but  to  insult  him.  She  would 
call  him  worthless  and  indolent,  and  compel 
him  to  walk  ;  which  when  he  could  scarcely 
do,  she  would  set  her  attendants  to  mimic  his 
motions,  to  clap  their  hands,  laugh,  throw  limes 
at  him,  and  sometimes  they  would  even 
throw  stones.  But  though  her  attendants 
were  forced  to  join  in  this  treatment,  Mr.  N. 
was  rather  pitied  than  scorned,  by  the  mean- 
est of  her  slaves,  on  her  departure. 

When  his  master  returned  from  the  voyage, 
Mr.  N.  complained  of  ill  usage,  but  was  not 
credited,  and  as  he  did  it  in  her  hearing,  he 
fared  worse  for  it.  He  accompanied  his  mas- 
ter in  his  second  voyage,  and  they  agreed  pret- 

well,  till  his  master  was  persuaded  by  a 
brother  trader,  that  Mr.  N.  was  dishonest. 
This  seems  to  be  the  only  vice  he  could  not 
be  charged  with,  as  his  honesty  seemed  to  be 
the  last >  ris  of  a  good  education  which  he 

could:.  of:  i    i*h   ugh  his  great  dis- 


REV.     JOHN    NEWTON. 

tress  might  have  been  a  strong  temptation  to 
fraud,  it  seems  he  never  once  thought  of  de- 
frauding his  master  in  the  smallest  matter. 
The  charge,  however,  wras  believed,  and  he  was 
condemned  without  evidence.  From  that  time 
he  was  used  very  hardly  ;  whenever  his  master 
left  the  vessel,  he  was  locked  upon  deck  with  a 
pint  of  rice  for  his  day's  allowance,  nor  had  he  any 
relief  till  his  master's  return.  "  Indeed,"  says 
he,  "  I  believe  I  should  have  been  nearly  star* 
ved,  but  for  an  opportunity  of  catching  fish 
sometimes.  When  fowls  were  killed  for  my 
master's  ownuse,  I  seldom  was  allowed  any  part 
but  the  entrails,  to  bait  my  hooks  with  :  and, 
at  what  we  called  slack-wrater,  that  is,  about 
the  changing  of  the  tides,  when  the  current 
was  still,  I  used  generally  to  fish,  (at  other 
times  it  was  not  practicable,)  and  I  very  often 
succeeded.  If  I  saw  a  fish  upon  my  hook,  my 
joy  was  little  less  than  any  other  person  would 
have  found  in  the  accomplishment  of  the 
scheme  he  had  most  at  heart.  Such  a  fish,  has* 
tily  broiled,  or  rather  half  burnt,  without  sauce^ 
salt,  or  bread,  has  afforded  me  a  delicious 
meal.  If  I  caught  none,  I  might,  if  I  could,  sleep 
away  my  hunger  till  the  next  return  of  slack 
water,  and  then  try  again. 
D 


38  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

"Nor  did  I  suffer  less  from  the  inclemency 
€>f  the  weather,  and  the  want  of  clothes.  The 
rainy  season  was  now  advancing ;  my  whole 
suit  was  a  shirt,  a  pair  of  trowsers,  a  cotton 
handkerchief  instead  of  cap,  and  a  cotton  cloth 
about  two  yards  long,  to  supply  the  want  of 
upper  garments :  and  thus  accoutred,  I  have 
been  exposed  for  twenty,  thirty,  perhaps  near 
forty  hours  together,  in  incessant  rains 
accompanied  with  strong  gales  of  wind, 
without  the  least  shelter,  when  my  master 
was  on  shore.  I  feel  to  this  day  some  faint 
returns  of  the  violent  pains  I  then  contracted. 
The  excessive  cold  and  wet  I  endured  in  that 
voyage,  and  so  soon  after  I  had  recovered  from 
a  long  sickness,  quite  broke  my  constitution 
and  my  spirits  ;  the  latter  were  soon  restored, 
but  the  effects  of  the  former  still  remain  with 
me,  as  a  needful  memento  of  the  service  and 
the  wages  of  sin."  *  ♦ 

In  about  two  months  they  returned,  and  the 
rest  of  the  time  Mr.  N.  spent  with  his  master, 
was  chiefly  at  the  Plantanes,  and  under  the 
same  regimen  as  has  been  mentioned.  His 
heart  was  now  bowed  down,  but  not  at  all  to 
a  wholesome  repentance.  While  his  spirits 
sunk  the  language  of  the  Prodigal  was  far 
from  him  :  destitute  of  resolution,  and  almost 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  39 

all  reflection,  he  had  lost  the  fierceness  which 
fired  him  when  on  board  the  Harwich,  and 
rendered  him  capable  of  the  most  desperate 
attempts,  but  he  was  no  further  changed  than 
a  Tiger  tamed  by  hunger. 

However  strange  it  may  appear,  he  attests 
it  as  a  truth,  that  though  destitute  both  of  food 
and  clothing,  and  depressed  beyond  common 
wretchedness,  he  could  sometimes  collect  his 
mind  to  mathematical  studies.  Having  bought 
Barrow's  Euclid  at  Plymouth,  and  it  being 
the  only  volume  he  brought  on  shore,  he  used 
to  take  it  to  remote  corners  of  the  island,  and 
draw  his  diagrams  with  a  long  stick  upon  the 
sand.  "  Thus,""  says  he,  "  I  often  beguiled 
my  sorrows,  and  almost  forgot  my  feelings, 
and  thus  without  any  other  assistance  I  made 
myself  in  a  good  measure  master  of  the  first 
six  books  of  Euclid." 

"  With  my  staff,  I  passed  this  Jordan,  and 
now  I  am  become  two  bands.5'  These  words 
of  Jacob  might  well  affect  Mr.  N. — when  re- 
membering  the  days  in  which  he  was  busied, 
in  planting  some  lime  or  lemon  trees.  The 
plants  he  put  in  the  ground  were  no  higher 
than  a  young  gooseberry  bush.  His  master 
and  mistress,  in  passing  the  place,  stopped  a- 
while  to  look  at  him  ;  at  length  his  master  said, 


40  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

"  Who  knows  but  by  the  time  these  trees  grow 
up  and  bear,  you  may  go  home  to  England, 
obtain  the  command  of  a  ship,  and  return  to 
reap  the  fruits  of  your  labours?  we  see  strange 
things  some  time  happen." — 

"  This,"  says  Mr.  Newton,  "  as  he  intended 
it,  was  a  cutting  sarcasm.  I  believe  he  thought 
it  full  as  probable  that  I  should  live  to  be  king 
of  Poland  ;  yet  it  proved  a  prediction,  and  they 
(one  of  them  at  least)  lived  to  see  me  return 
from  England,  in  the  capacity  he  had  mention- 
ed, and  pluck  some  of  the  first  limes  from  those 
very  trees.  How  can  I  proceed  in  my  rela- 
tion, till  I  raise  a  monument  to  the  divine 
goodness,  by  comparing  tliC  Circumstances  in 
which  the  Lord  has  since  placed  me,  with 
what  I  was  at  that  time  !  Had  you  seen  me, 
Sir,  then  go  so  pensive  and  solitary  in  the  dead 
of  night  to  wash  my  one  shirt  upon  the  rocks, 
and  afterwards  put  it  on  wet,  that  it  might 
dry  upon  my  back,  while  I  slept; — had  you 
seen  me  so  poor  a  figure,  that  when  a  ship's  boat 
came  to  the  island,  shame  often  constrained 
me  to  hide  myself  in  the  woods,  from  the 
sight  of  strangers  ;  especially,  had  you  known 
that  my  conduct,  principles,  and  heart,  Mere 
still  darker  than  my  outward  condition — how 
little  would  you  have  imagined,  that  one,  who 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  41 

so  fully  answered  to  the  svyfoi  km  iaiwHk*  of 
the  Apostle,  was  reserved  to  be  so  peculiar  an 
instance  of  the  providential  care,  and  exube- 
rant goodness  of  God. — There  was  at  that 
time,  but  one  earnest  desire  of  my  heart,  which 
;  not  contrary  and  shocking  both  to  religion 
and  reason  ;  that  one  desire,  though  my  vile 
licentious  life  rendered  me  peculiarly  unwor- 
thy of  success,  and  though  a  thousand  difficul- 
ties seemed  to  render  it  impossible,  the  Lord 
was  pleased  to  gratify." 

Things  continued  thus  nearly  twelve  months. 
In  this  interval  Mr.  N.  wrote  two  or  three 
times  to  his  Father,  describing  his  condition, 
and  desiring  his  assistance  ;  at  the  same  time 
signifying,  that  he  had  resolved  not  to  return 
to  England,  unless  his  parent  were  pleased  to 
send  for  him.  His  Father  applied  to  his  friend 
at  Liverpool,  who  gave  orders  accordingly, 
to  a  Captain  of  his  who  was  then  fitting  out 
for  Gambia  and  Sierra  Leone. 

Some  time  within  the  year,  Mr.  N.  obtain- 
ed his  master's  consent  to  live  with  another  tra- 
der who  dwelt  upon  the  same  island.  This 
change  was  much  to  his  advantage,  as  he  wras 
soon    decently   clothed  lived   in  plenty,  was 

*  Hateful  and  hating  one  another. 
D  2 


42  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

treated  as  a  companion,  and  trusted  with  his 
effects  to  the  amount  of  some  thousand  pounds. 
This  man  had  several  factories,  and  white  ser- 
vants in  different  places ;  particularly  one  in  Kit- 
tam,  the  river  already  described  as  running  so 
near  along  the  sea  coast.  Mr,  N.  was  soon 
appointed  there,  and  had  a  share  in  the  ma- 
nagement of  business,  jointly  with  another  ser- 
vant :  they  lived  as  they  pleased ;  business 
flourished ;  and  their  employer  was  satisfied. 

"Here,"  says  he,  "  I  began  to  be  wretch 
enough  to  think  my  self  happy.  Thereisasigni- 
ficant  phrase  frequently  used  in  those  parts,  that 
such  a  white  man  is  grown  black.  Itjdoes  not  in- 
tend an  alteration  of  complexion,  but  disposi- 
tion. I  have  known  several,  who  settling  in 
Africa  after  the  age  of  thirty  or  forty,  have  at 
that  time  of  life  been  gradually  assimilated  to 
the  tempers,  customs,  and  ceremonies  of  the 
natives,  so  far  as  to  prefer  that  country  to  Eng- 
land; they  have  even  become  dupes  to  all 
the  pretended  charms,  necromancies,  amulets, 
and  divinations  of  the  blinded  negroes,  and 
put  more  trust  in  such  things  than  the  wiser 
sort  among  the  natives.  A  part  of  this  spirit 
of  infatuation  was  growing  upon  me  (in  time, 
perhaps,  I  might  have  yielded  to  the  whole ;) 
I  entered  into  closer  engagements  with  the  in. 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTON,  43 

habitants,   and  should  have  lived  and   died  a 
wretch  amongst  them,    if  the    Lord  had  not 
watched  over  me  for  good.   Not  that  I  had  lost 
those  ideas  which  chiefly  engaged  my  heart  to 
England,  but  a  despair  of  seeing  them  accom- 
plished,  made  me   willing  to  remain  where  ] 
was.     I  thought  I  could  more   easilv  bear  the 
disappointment    in  this   situation  than  nearer 
home.     But,    as  soon  as  I  had  fixed  my  con- 
nexions and  plans  with  these  views,  the  Lord 
providentially   interposed    to  break  them   in 
pieces,   and  save  me    from  ruin,    in   spite  of 
myself." — 

In  the  mean  time  the  ship  that  had  orders 
to  bring  Mr.  N.  home  arrived  at  Sierra  Leone. 
The  Captain  made  enquiry  for  Mr.  N.  there, 
and  at  theBonanas  ;  but  finding  he  was  at  a  great 
distance,  thought  no  more  about  him.  A  spe- 
cial providence  seems  to  have  placed  him  at 
Kittam  just  at  this  time  ;  for  the  ship  coming 
no  nearer  than  the  Bonanas  and  staying  but  a 
few  days,  if  he  had  been  at  the  Plantanes,  he 
would  not  probably  have  heard  of  the  ship  till 
she  had  sailed :  the  same  must  have  certainly 
been  the  event  had  he  been  sent  to  any  other 
factory,  of  which  his  new  master  had  several. 
But  though  the  place  he  went  to  was  a  long 
Way  up  the  river,  much  more  than  a  hundred 


44  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

miles  distant  from  the  Plantanes,  yet  by  its 
peculiar  situation  already  "noticed,  he  was  still 
within  a  mile  of  the  sea  coast.  The  interposi- 
tion was  also  more  remarkable,  as  at  that  very 
juncture,  he  was  going  in  quest  of  trade,  di- 
rectly from  the  sea,  and  would  have  set  out 
a  day  or  two  before,  but  that  they  waited  for 
a  few  articles  from  the  next  ship  that  came, 
in  order  to  complete  the  assortment  of  goods 
he  wras  to  take  with  him. 

They  used  sometimes  to  walk  to  the  beach, 
in  hopes  of  seeing  a  vessel  pass  by  ;  but  this 
was  very  precarious,  as  at  that  time  the  place 
was  hot  resorted  to  by  ships  of  trade  ;  many 
passed  in  the  night,  others  kept  a  considerable 
distance  from  the  shore,  nor  does  he  remem- 
ber that  any  one  had  stopped  while  he  was 
there. 

In  Feb.  1747,  his  fellow- servant  walking 
down  to  the  beach  in  the  forenoon,  saw  a  ves- 
sel sailing  by,  and  made  a  smoke  in  token  of 
trade.  She  was  already  beyond  the  place,  and 
the  wind  being  fair,  the  Captain  demurred 
about  stopping;  had  Mr.  N.'s  companion 
been  half  an  hour  later,  the  vessel  wrould  have 
been  beyond  recall ;  when  he  saw  her  come  to 
an  anchor  he  went  on  board  in  a  canoe,  and 
this  proved  the  very  ship  already  spoken  of. 


REV,    JOHN     NEWTON. 

Which  brought  an  order  for  Mr.  N.'s  return.— 
One  of  the  first  questions  the  Captain  put  was 
concerning  Mr.  N.,  and  understanding  he  was 
so  near,  the  Captain  came  on  shore  to  deliver 
his  message. 

"  Had,"  says  he,  "  an  invitation  from  home 
reached  me  when  I  was  sick,  and  starving  at 
the  P.antanes,  I  should  have  received  it  as  life 
from  the  dead,  but  now  for  the  reasons  already 
given,  I  heard  it  at  first  with  indifference." — 
The  Captain,  however,  unwilling  to  lose  him, 
framed  a  story,  and  gave  him  a  very  plausible 
account  of  his  having  missed  a  large  packet 
of  letters  and  papers,  which  he  should  have 
brought  with  him  ;  but  said  he  had  it  from 
his  Father's  own  mouth,  as  well  as  from  his 
employer,  that  a  person  lately  dead  had  left 
Mr.  N.  £400  per  annum,  and  added,  that  if 
embarrassed  in  his  circumstances,  he  had  ex- 
press orders  to  redeem  Mr.  N.  though  it 
should  cost  one%  half  his  cargo.  Every  parti- 
cular of  this  was  false,  nor  could  Mr,  N.  be- 
lieve what  he  said  about  the  estate  ;  except, . 
that,  as  he  had  some  expectations  from  an 
aged  relation,  he  thought  a  part  of  it  might 
be  true. 

But  thoughhis  Father's  care  and  desire  to  see 
him  was  treated  so  lightly,  and  would  have  been 


16  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

insufficient  alone  to  draw  him  from  his  retreat, 
yet  the  remembrance  of  Mrs.  N.  the  hopes  of 
seeing  her,  and  the  possibility  that  his  accept- 
ing this  offer  might  once  more  put  him  in  the 
way  of  gaining  her  hand,  prevailed  over  all 
other  considerations. 

The  Captain  further  promised  (and  in  this 
lie  kept  his  word)  that  Mr.  N.  should  lodge 
in  his  cabin,  dine  at  his  table,  and  be  his  com- 
panion, without  being  liable  to  service.  Thus 
suddenly  was  he  freed  from  a  captivity  of 
about  fifteen  months.  He  had  neither  a  thought 
nor  a  desire  of  this  change  one  hour  before  it 
took  place  ;  but,  embarking  with  the  Cap- 
tain, he  in  a  few  hours  lost  sight  of  Kittam. 

The  ship  in  which  he  embarked  as  a  passen- 
ger was  on  a  trading  voyage  for  Gold,  Ivory, 
Dyer's-wrood,  and  Bees'-wax.  Such  a  cargo 
requires  more  time  to  collect  than  a  cargo  of 
slaves.  The  Captain  began  his  trade  at  Gam- 
bia, had  been  already  four  or#  five  months  in 
Africa,  and  during  the  course  of  a  year  after 
Mr.  N.  had  been  with  him,  they  ranged  the 
whole  coast  as  far  as  Cape  Lopez,  which  lies 
about  a  degree  south  of  the  Equinoctial,  and 
more  than  a  thousand  miles  farther  from  Eng- 
land than  the  place  from  whence  he  embarked. 

"  I  have,"  says  he,  "  little  to  offer  worthy  of 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  47 

notice,  in  the  course  of  this  tedious  voyage. 
I  had  no  business  to  employ  my  thoughts,  but 
sometimes  amused  myself  with  Mathematics  ; 
excepting  this,  my  whole  life,  when  awake, 
was  a  course  of  most  horrid  impiety  and  pro- 
faneness.  I  know  not  that  I  have  ever  since 
met  so  daring  a  blasphemer.  Not  content 
with  common  oaths  and  imprecations,  I  daily 
invented  new  ones  :  so  that  I  wras  often  se- 
riously reproved  by  the  Captain,  who  was 
himself  a  very  passionate  man,  and  not  at  all 
circumspect  in  his  expressions.  From  the 
relation  I  at  times  made  him  of  my  past  ad- 
ventures, and  what  he  saw  of  my  conduct,  and 
especially  towards  the  close  of  the  voyage, 
when  we  met  with  many  disasters,  he  wrou!d 
often  tell  me  that,  to  his  great  grief,  he  had  a 
Jonah  on  board;  that  a  curse  attended  me 
wherever  I  went,  and  that  all  the  troubles  he 
met  with  in  the  voyage  were  owing  to  his 
having  taken  me  into  the  vessel." 

Although  Mr.  N.  lived  long  in  the  excess 
of  almost  every  other  extravagance,  he  was 
never,  it  seems,  fond  of  drinking  :  his  Father 
was  often  heard  to  say,  that  while  his  son  avoid- 
ed drunkenness,  some  hopes  might  be  enter- 
tained of  his  recov:  ■ ,  however, 
in  a  frolic,  he  would      i  g-bout.; 


48  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

not  through  love  of  liquor,  but  disposition  to 
mischief:  the  last  proposal  he  made  of  this 
kind,  and  at  his  own  expense,  was  in  the  river 
Gabon,  whilst  the  ship  was  trading  on  the 
coast,  as  follows. 

Four  or  five  of  them  sat  down  one  evening 
to  try  who  could  hold  out  longest  in  drinking 
geneva  and  rum  alternately  :  a  large  sea- shell 
supplied  the  place  of  a  glass.  Mr.  N.  was 
very  unfit  for  such  a  challenge,  as  his  head 
was  always  incapable  of  bearing  much  liquor  : 
he  began,  however,  and  proposed  as  a  toast, 
some  imprecation  against  the  person  who 
should  start  first :  this  proved  to  be  himself. — 
Fired  in  his  brain,  he  arose  and  danced  on 
the  deck  like  a  madman,  and  while  he  was 
thus  diverting  his  companions,  his  hat  went 
overboard.  Seeing  the  ship's  boat  by  moon- 
light, he  endeavoured  eagerly  to  throw  .him- 
self over  the  side  into  the  boat,  that  he  might 
recover  his  hat.  His  sight  however  deceived 
him  for  the  boat  was  not  (as  he  supposed,) 
within  his  reach,  but  perhaps  twenty  feet 
from  the  ship's  side.  He  was,  however,  half 
overboard,  and  would  in  the  space  of  a  moment 
have  plunged  into  the  water ;  when  somebody 
caught  hotd  of  his  clothes,  and  pulled  him  back. 
This  was  an  amazing  escape,  as  he  could. not 


REV.    JOIIX    XLW'l  OX. 

fcwim,  had  he  been  sober;  the  tide  ran  ven 
sjtrpng,  his  companions  were  too  much  intoxi- 
cated to  save  him,   and  the  rest  of  the  ship's 

ripariy  were  asleep. 

>tner  time  at  Cape    Lopez,    before  iIk 
ship  left  the  coast,  he  went  with  settle  others 
into  the  woods,  and  shot  abuftlilo,  or  wild  cow ; 
they  brought  apart  of  it  on  board,  and  careful- 
ly marked  the  place  (as  he  thought)  where  the 
rest  was  left.     In  the  evening  they  returned  to 
fetch  it,  but  set  out  too  late.     Mr.  N.  underv 
took  to  be  their  guide  ;  but  night  coming  on 
>re  they  could  reach  the  place,    they   lost, 
their  way.      Sometimes  they  were  in  swamps, 
aiuLup  to  their  middle  in  water  and  when  they 
recovered  dry  lanel,  they  could  not  tell  whe.* 
ther  they  were  proceeding  towards  the  ship,  of 
the  contrary  way.     Every  step  increased  their 
uncertainty,  night  grew  darker,  and  fhey  were 
entangleel   in  thick  woods    which  perhaps  the 
foot  of  man  had    n  odden,   and  which 

abound  with  wild  beasts  ;   besides  which,  they 
had  neither  light,  food, 'nor  arms,  while  expc 
ing  a  tiger  to  rush    from    behind   every   trce.: 
The  stars  were  clouded,  and  they  had  no  co: 
pass  to  form  a  judgment  which  way  they  we  J 
going.     But  it   pleased   God   to  secure  then 
from  the  beasts  ;    arid,  after  some  hours  per. 

E 


50 


M  EMOIRS    OF    T  H  E 


plexity  the  moon  arose,   and  pointed    out  the 
eastern  quarter.    It  appeared  then,  that  instead 
©f  proceeding  towards  the  sea,  they  had  been 
penetrating  into  the  country  ;  at  length,  by  the 
guidance  of  the  moon,  they  recoyered  the  ship. 
These,  and  many  other  deliverances,    pro- 
duced at  that  time  no    salutary    effect.     The 
admonitions  of  conscience,    which  from  suc- 
cessive repulses  had  grown  weaker  and  weak- 
er, at  length  entirely  ceased  ;  and  for  the  space 
©f  many  months,  if  not  for  some  years,  he  had 
not  a  single  check  of  that  sort.     At  times  he 
was  visited  with  sickness,   and  believed  him- 
self to  be   near  death,   but  had   not  the  least 
concern   about   the    consequences.       "  In    a 
word,"   says   he,    "  I  seemed   to  have    every 
mark  of  final  impenitence  and  rejection  :  nei- 
ther judgments  nor  mercies  made   the   least 
impression  on  me." 

At  length  their  business  being  finished^ 
they  left  Cape  Lopez,  and  after  a  few  days 
stay  at  the  island  of  Annabona,  in  order  to  lay 
in  provisions,  they  sailed  homeward  about  the 
beginning  of  January  1748.  From  Annabona 
to  England  is  perhaps  more  than  seven  thou- 
sand miles,  if  the  circuits  are  included,  which 
are  necessary  to  be  made  on  account  of  the 
trade-winds.     They  sailed  westward.,  till  near 


UK  V,    J  0  H  a      NEWTON,  51 

the  coast  ofBrasil,tlu  n  northward,  t(  nks 

of  New  foiindland,    without  meeting  any  thing 

extraordinary.  On  these  banks  they  stopped 
half  a  day  to  fish  for  cod  :  this  was  then  chiefly 
for  diversion,   as  they  hud  provision  enouj 

little  expected  those  iish  (as  it  aftei 
proved)  w  ould  be  all  they  Would  have  to  sub- 
sist  on.      They    left  the    banks,     March    1st, 
with    a  hard    rale    of   wind    western-     which 
pushed  them  fast  homewards.     By  the  length 
of  this  voyage,  in  a  hot  climate,  the  vessel  \ 
greatly  out  of  repair,  and  very  unfit  to  endure 
stormy  weather.     The  sails  and  cordage  vv( 
likewise   very  much   worn  ;    and  many    such 
circumstances  concurred  to  render  what  fol- 
lowed imminently  dangerous. 

Among  the  few  books  they  had  on  board 
was  Stanhope's  Thomas-a-Kempis  :  Mr.  N. 
carelessly  took  it  up,  as  he  had  often  done  be- 
fore, to  pass  away  the  time,  but  which  he  had 
read  with  the  same  indifference,  as  if  it  were 
a  romance.  But  in  reading  it  this  time,  a 
thought  occurred, —  JJlmt  if  tJic>>;c>  thing* 
should  be  true  ?  He  could  not  bear  the  force 
of  the  inference,  and  therefore  shut  the  book, 
concluding,  that,  true  or  false,  he  must  abide 
the  consequences  of  his  own  choice,  and  put 
an  end  to  these  reflections,  by  joining  in  the 
vain  conversation  which  came  in  his  way. 


#2  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

a  But  now,"  says  he,  "  the  Lord's  time 
was  come,  and  the  conviction  I  was  so  unwiU 
ling  to  receive  was  deeply  impressed  upon  me 
by  an  awful  dispensation.'5 

He  went  to  bed  that  night  in  his  usual  carnal 
security  ;  but  was  awaked  from  a  sound  sleep 
by  the  force  of  a  violent  sea  which  broke  on 
board  :  so  much  of  it  came  down  as  filled  the 
cabin  with  water,  in  which  he  lav.  This 
alarm  was  followed  by  a  cry  from  the  deck, 
that  the  ship  was  sinking.  He  essayed  to  go 
upon  deck,  but  wras  met  upon  the  ladder  by 
the  captain,  who  desired  him  to  bring  a  knife. 
On  his  returning  for  the  knife,  another  person 
went  up  in  his  place,  who  was  instantly  wash- 
ed overboard.  They  had  no  leisure  to  lament 
him,  nor  expected  to  survive  him  long,  for  the 
ship  was  filling  with  water  very  fast.  The 
sea  had  torn  away  the  upper  timbers  on  one 
side,  and  made  it  a  mere  wreck  in  a  few  mi- 
nutes ;  so  that  it  seems  al  most  miraculous 
that  any  survived  to  relate  the  story.  They 
h^l  immediate  recourse  to  the  pumps,  but 
the  water  increased  against  their  efforts  :  some 
of  them  were  set  to  bailing,  though  they  had 
but  eleven  or  twelve  people  to  sustain  this 
service.  But  notwithstanding  all  they  could 
do,  the  vessel  was  nearly  full,  and  with  a  com- 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON. 

mon  cargo  must  have  sunk  ;    but  having  a 
great  quantity  of  bees'- wax  and  wood  on  board 
which  were  specifically  lighter    than    wat 
and  providentially  receiving  this  shock  in  the 

y  crisis  of  the  gale,  towards  morning,  the} 
e  enabled  to  employ  some  means  for  safe- 
ty, which  succeeded  beyond  hope.  In  about 
an  hour's  time,  day  began  to  break,  and  the 
wind  abated ;  they  expended  most  of  their 
clothes  and  bedding  to  stop  the  leaks ;  over 
these  they  nailed  pieces  of  boards,  and  at  last 
perceived  the  water  within  to  subside. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  scene  Mr.  N.  was 
little  affected ;  he  pumped  hard,  and  endeav- 
oured to  animate  himself  and  his  companions. 
He  told  one  of  them,  that  in  a  few  days  this 
distress  would  serve  for  a  subject  over  a  glass 
of  wine ;  but  the  man  being  less  hardened 
than  himself,  replied  with  tears,  "  No,  it  is 
too  late  now."  About  nine  o'clock,  being 
almost  spent  with  cold  and  labour,  Mr.  X. 
went  to  speak  with  the  captain,  and  as  he  was 
returning,  said,  almost  without  meaning,  "If 
this  will  not  do,  the  Lord  have  mere}'  upon 
us  :"  thus  expressing,  though  with  little  re- 
flection, his  desire  of  mercy  for  the  first  time 
within  the  space  of  many  years.     Struck  with 

his  own  words,  it  directly  occurred  to  Mm, 
E  2  ' 


~'l-  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

What  mercy  can  there  be  for  me !  He  was 
however  obliged  to  return  to  the  pump,  and 
there  continued  till  noon,  almost  every  passing 
wave  breaking  over  his  head,  being,  like  the 
rest,  secured  by  ropes,  that  they  might  not  be 
gashed  away.  He  expected  indeed,  that  every 
time  the  vessel  descended  in  the  sea,  she  would 
rise  no  more,  and  though  he  dreaded  death 
tvow,  and  his  heart  foreboded  the  worst,  if  the 
scriptures,  which  he  had  long  opposed,  were 
true ;  yet  he  was  still  but  half  convinced,  and 
remained  for  a  time  in  a  sullen  frame,  a  mix- 
ture of  despair  and  impatience.  He  thought,, 
if  the  Christian  religion  were  true,  he  could 
not  be  forgiven,  and  was  therefore  expecting, 
and  almost  at  times  wishing,  to  know^  the  worst 
of  it. 

The  following  part  of  his  narrative  will,  I 
think,  be  best  expressed  in  his  own  words  : 
u  The  10th,  that  is,  in  the  present  style,  the 
21st,  of  March,  is  a  day  much  to  be  remem- 
bered by  me,  and  I  have  never  suffered  it  to 
jpass  wholly  unnoticed  since  the  year  1748. 
On  that  day  the  Lord  sent  from  on  high  and 
delivered  me  out  of  deep  wraters. — I  continued 
at  the  pump  from  three  in  the  morning  till 
near  noon,  and  then  I  could  do  no  moFe.  I 
went  and  lay  down  upon  my  bed,  uncertain, 


REV.  JOHN    NEWTON. 

and  almost  indifferent  whether  I  should  rise 
again.  In  an  hour's  time  I  was  called,  and 
not  being  able  to  pump,  I  went  to  the  helm 
and  steered  the  ship  till  midnight,  excepting  a 
small  interval  for  refreshment.  I  had  here 
leisure  and  convenient  opportunity  for  reflec- 
tion :  I  began  to  think  of  my  former  religious 
professions, — the  extraordinary  turns  of  my 
life, — the  calls,  and  deliverances  I 

had  met  with, — the  licentious  course  of  my 
conversation, — particularly  my  unparalleled 
effrontery  in  making  the  gospel  history  (which 
I  could  not  be  sure  was  false,  though  I  was 
not  yet  assured  it  was  truej  the  constant  sub- 
ject of  profane  ridicule.  I  thought,  allowing 
the  scripture  premises,  there  never  was  or 
could  be  such  a  sinner  as  myself;  and  then 
comparing  the  advantages  I  had  broken 
through,  I  concluded  at  first,  that  my  sins 
were  too  great  to  be  forgiven.  The  scripture 
likewise  seemed  to  say  the  same  :  for  I  had 
formerly  been  well  acquainted  with  the  Bible, 
and  many  passages,  upon  this  occasion,  return- 
ed upon  my  memory  ;  particularly  those  aw- 
ful passages,  Prov.  i.  24 — 31.  Heb.  vi.  4,  6. 
and  2  Pet.  ii.  20.  which  seemed  so  exactly  to 
suit  my  case  and  character,  as  to  bring  with 
them  a  presumptive  proof  of  a  divine  originals 


56  MEMOIRS     OP    THE 

"  Thus,  as  I  have  said,  I  waited  with  fear 
and  impatience  to  receive  my  inevitable  doom. 
Yet  though  I  had  thoughts  of  this  kind,  they 
were  exceeding  faint  and  disproportionate  ;  it 
was  not  till  after  (perhaps)  several  years  that  I 
had  gained  some  clear  views  of  the  infinite 
righteousness  and  grace  of  Christ  Jesus  my 
Lord,  that  I  had  a  deep  and  strong  apprehen- 
sion of  my  state  by  nature  and  practice  ;  and 
perhaps,  till  then,  I  could  not  have  borne  the 
sight.  So  wonderfully  does  the  Lord  propor- 
tion the  discoveries  of  sin  and  grace;  for  he 
knows  our  frame,  and  that  if  he  were  to  put 
forth  the  greatness rof  his  power,  a  poor  sinner 
would  be  instantly  overwhelmed,  and  crushed 
as  a  moth. 

"  But  to  return,  when  I  saw  beyond  all  pro- 
bability, that  there  was  still  hope  of  respite, 
and  heard  about  six  in  the  evening  that  the 
ship  was  freed  from  water,  there  arose  a  gleam 
of  hope.  I  thought  I  saw  the  hand  of  God 
displayed  in  our  favour.  I  began  to  pray  ;  I 
could  not  utter  the  prayer  of  faith  ;  I  could  not 
draw  near  to  a  reconciled  God,  and  call  him 
Father ;  my  prayer  was  like  the  cry  of  the  ra- 
vens, which  yet  the  Lord  does  not  disdain  to 
hear.  I  now  began  to  think  of  that  Jesus 
whom  I  had  so  often  derided;  I  recollected 


REV,    JOHN     NEWT  OX.  5i 

the  particulars  of  his  life,  and  of  his  death  ;  a 
(Lath  for  sins  not  his  own,  but,  as  I  remenv 
bered,  for  the  sake  of  those,  who,  in  their  dis- 
tress, should  put  their  trust  in  him.  And  now 
I  chiefly  wanted  evidence. — The  comfort] 
principles  of  infidelity  were  deep!}-  rivited,  and 
[  rather  wished  than  believed  these  things  were 
real  facts.  You  will  please  to  observe,  that  I 
collect  the  strain  of  the  reasonings  and  e ;. 
cises  of  my  mind  in  one  view;  but  I  do  not 
say  that  all  this  passed  at  one  time.  The  great 
question  now  was,  how  to  obtain  faith?  I 
speak  not  of  an  appropriating  faith  (of  which  I 
then  knew  neither  the  nature  nor  necessity,) 
but  how  I  should  gain  an  assurance  that  the 
Scriptures  were  of  divine  inspiration,  and  a 
sufficient  warrant  for  the  exercise  of  Lust  and 
hope  in  God. 

"  One  of  the  first  helps  I  received  (in  conse- 
quence of  a  determination  to  examine  the  New 
Testament  more  carefully)  was  from  Luke,  xi. 
13.  I  had  been  sensible,  that  to  profess  faith 
in  Jesus  Christ,  when,  in  reality,  I  did  not  be- 
lieve his  history,  was  no  better  than  a  moekcry 
of  the  heart-searching  God  ;  but  here  I  found 
a  Spirit  spoken  of,  which  was  to  be  commu 
nicated  to  those  who  ask  it.  Upon  this  I  rea- 
:d  thus  :   if  this  book  be  true,  the  prom  if 


58  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

in  this  passage  must  be  true  likewise  :  I  have 
need  of  that  very  Spirit,  by  which  the  whole 
was  written,  in  order  to  understand  it  aright. 
He  has  engaged  here  to  give  that  Spirit  to 
those  who  ask  :  I  must  therefore  pray  for  it, 
and,  if  it  be  of  God,  he  will  make  good  his  own 
word.  My  purposes  were  strengthened  by 
John,  vii.  17.  I  concluded  from  thence,  that 
though  I  could  not  say  from  my  heart,  that  I 
believed  the  Gospel,  yet  I  would,  for  the  pre- 
sent take  it  for  granted ;  and  that  by  studying 
it  in  this  light,  I  should  be  more  and  more  con- 
firmed in  it, 

"  If  what  I  am  writing  could  be  perused  by 
our  modern  infidels,  they  would  say  (for  I  too 
well  know  their  manner)  that  I  was  Aery  desi- 
rous to  persuade  myself  into  this  opinion.  I 
confess  I  was,  and  so  would  they  be,  if  the 
Lord  should  shew  them,  as  he  was  pleased  to 
shew  me  at  that  time,  the  absolute  necessity 
of  some  expedient  v  to  interpose  between  a 
righteous  God  and  a  sinful  soul  :  upon  the 
Gospel  scheme  I  saw  at  least,  a  peradventure  of 
hope,  but  on  every  other  side  I  was  surrounded 
with  black,  unfathomable  despair." 

The  wind  being  now  moderate,  and  the  ship 
drawing  nearer  to  its  port,  the  ship's  company 
began   to   recover  from  their   consternation, 


.  JCXHN    NEW  T< 

though  greatly  alarmed  by  their  circumsl  . 
The}  found,  that  the  water  having  floated  their 
moveables  in  the  hold,  all  the  easks  of  pro 
sion  had  been  beaten  to  pieces  by  the  violent 
motion  of  the  ship.      On  the  other  hand,  their 
live  stock  had  been   Washed  overboard  in  the 
storm.     In  short,  all  the  provisions  they  saved 
except  the  fish  lately   caught  on  the  banks 
amusement,    and  a  little    of   the    pulse    kind, 
which  used  to  be  given  to   the  hogs,  would 
have  supported  them  but  a  week,  and  that  at  a 
-scanty  allowance.     The  sails  too,  were  mostly 
blown  away,  so  that  they  advanced  but  slowly 
even  while  the  wind  was  fair.    They  imagined 
they  were  about  a  hundred  leagues  from  land, 
but  were  in  reality  much  further.      Mr.  N.'s 
leisure  was  chiefly  employed  in  reading,  me- 
ditation on  the  Scriptures,  and  prayer  for  w 
cy  and  instruction. 

Things  continued  thus,  for  about  four  or  five 
days,  till  they  were  awakened  one  morning  by 
the  joyful  shouts  of  the  watch  upon  deck,  pro- 
claiming the  sight  of  land,  with  which  tl 
were  all  soon  raised.  The  dawning  was  un- 
commonly beautiful,  and  the  light,  just  suffi- 
cient to  discover  distant  objects,  presented 
what  seemed  a  mountainous  coast,  about  tv\ 
ty  miles  off,  with  two  or  three  small  islam 


60  MEMOIRS    OF   THE 

the  whole  appeared  to  be  the  north  west 
tremity  of  Ireland,  for  which  they  were  steer* 
ing.  They  sincerely  congratulated  each  other, 
having  no  doubt  that  if  the  wind  continued, 
they  should  be  %in  safety  and  plenty  the  next 
day.  Their  brandy,  which  was  reduced  to  a 
little  more  than  a  pint,  was,  by  the  captain's  or- 
ders, distributed  among  them;  wiio  added, 
"  We  shall  soon  have  brandy  enough."  Thev 
likewise  ate  up  the  residue  of  their  bread,  and 
were  in  the  condition  of  men  suddenly  re- 
prieved from  death. 

But  while  their  hopes  were  thus  excited,  the 
mate  sunk  their  spirits,  by  sajing  in  a  graver 
tone,  that  "  he  wished  it  might  prove  land  at 
last."  If  one  of  the  common  sailors  had  first 
said  so,  the  rest  would  probably  have  beaten 
him.  The  expression,  however,  brought 
on  warm  debates,  whether  it  was  land  or  not ; 
but  the  case  was  soon  decided,  for  one  of  their 
fancied  islands  began  to  grow  red  from  the  ap- 
proach of  the  sun.  In  a  word,  their  land  was 
nothing  but  clouds  :  and  in  half  an  hour  more, 
the  whole  appearance  was  dissipated. 

Still,  however,  they  cherished  hope  from  the 
wind  continuing  fair,  but  of  this  hope  they 
were  soon  deprived.  That  very  day,  their  fair 
w  ind  subsided  into  a  calm,  and  the  next  morn- 


KEV.   JOHN"    NEWTOK.  CI 

i  5,  the  gale  sprung  up  from  the  south  e 
directly  against  them,  and  continued  so  for 
more  than  a  fortnight  afterwards.  At  this 
time  the  ship  was  so  wrecked,  that  they  were 
obliged  to  keep  the  wind  always  on  the  broken 
side,  except  when  the  weather  was  quite  mo- 
derate ;  and  were  thus  driven  still  further  from 
their  port  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  as  for  as  the 
Lewis,  or  western  isles  of  Scotland.  Their 
station  now  was  such,  as  deprived  them  of  any 
hope  of  relief  from  other  vessels.  "  It  n 
indeed  be  questioned,"  says  Mr.  N.  "  whether 
our  ship  was  not  the  very  first  that  had  been 
in  that  part  of  the  ocean,  at  the  same  time  of 
the  year." 

Provisions  now  began  to  fall  short ;  the  half 
of  a  salted  cod  was  a  day's  subsistence  for 
twelve  people :  they  had  no  stronger  liquor 
than  water,  no  bread,  hardly  any  clothes,  and 
very  cold  weather.  They  had  also  incessant 
labour  at  the  pumps,  to  keep  the  ship  above 
water.  Much  labour  and  little  food  wasted 
them  fast,  and  one  man  died  under  the  hard- 
ship. Yet  their  sufferings  were  light  when 
compared  with  their  fears.  Their  bare  allow- 
ance could  continue  but  little  longer,  and  a 
dreadful  prospect  appeared,  of  their  being  o 

F 


62  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

ther  starved  to  death,  or  reduced  to  feed  upon 
one  another. 

At  this  time  Mr.  N.  had  a  further  trouble, 
peculiar  to  himself.  The  captain,  whose  tem- 
per was  quite  soured  by  distress,  was  hourly 
reproaching  him  as  the  sole  cause  of  the  calam- 
ity, and  was  confident  that  his  being  thrown 
overboard  would  be  the  only  means  of  pre- 
serving them.  The  captain,  indeed,  did  not 
intend  to  make  the  experiment,  but  "  the  con- 
tinued repetition  of  this  in  my  ears,"  says 
Mr.  N.  "  gave  me  much  uneasiness  ;  espe- 
cially as  my  conscience  seconded  his  words  : 
I  thought  it  very  probable,  that  all  that  had 
befallen  us  was  on  my  account — that  I  was  at 
last  found  out  by  the  powerful  hand  of  God — 
and  condemned  in  my  own  breast." 

While,  however,  they  were  thus  proceeding, 
at  the  time  when  they  were  ready  to  give  up 
all  for  lost,  and  despair  appeared  in  every  coun- 
tenance, they  began  to  conceive  hope  from  the 
wind's  shifting  to  the  desired  point,  so  as  best 
to  suit  that  broken  part  of  the  ship,  which 
must  be  kept  out  of  the  water,  and  so  gently 
to  blow,  as  their  few  remaining  sails  could 
bear.  And  thus  it  continued  at  an  unsettled 
time  of  the  year,  till  they  were  once  more 
called  up  to  see  land,  and  which  was  really 


REV.    JOIIX  JX.  63 

such.     They  saw  the  island  of  Tony,  and  the 

day  anchored  in  Lough  S  willy,  in  I 
land,  on  the  8th  of  April,  just  four  weeks  af- 
ter the  damage  they  had  sustained  from  the 
When  they  came  into  this  port,  their 
very  last  victuals  were  boiling  in  the  pot,  and 
they  had  been  there  two  hours,  the 
wind,  which  seemed  to  have  been  providentially 
restrained  till  they  were  in  a  place  of  safety, 
began  to  blow  with  great  violence;  so  that 
if  they  had  continued  at  sea  that  night,  they 
must  in  all  human  estimation  have  gone  to  the 
bottom  !  "  About  this  time,"  says  Mr.  N 
"  I  began  to  know  that  there  is  a  God,  who 
hears  and  answers  prayer." 

Mr.  N.'s  history  is  now  brought  down  to 
the  time  of  his  arrival  in  Ireland,  in  the  year 
1748  ;  and  the  progress  he  had  hitherto  made 
in  religion,  will  be  best  related  in  his  o\\  n  words. 
I  shall  therefore  make  a  longer  extract  than 
usual,  because  it  is  important  to  trace  the  ope- 
ration of  real  religion  in  the  heart.  Speaking 
of  the  ship  in  which  he  lately  sailed,  he  says, 
"  there  were  no  persons  on  board,  to  whom  I 
could  open  myself  with  freedom,  concerning 
the  state  of  my  soul ;  none  from  whom  I  could 
ask  advice.     As  to  books,  I  had  a  New  T 

anhope,  already  mentioned,   and  a 


64  memoirs   or   Tin; 

volume  of  Bishop  Beveridge's  Sermons,  one 
of  which,  upon  our  Lord's  passion,  affected  me 
much.  In  perusing  the  New  Testament,  I  was 
struck  with  several  passages,  particularly  that 
of  the  fig-tree,  Luke,  xiii.  the  case  of  St. 
Paul,  1  Tim*  i.  but  particularly  that  of  the 
Prodigal,  Luke,  xv.  I  thoughtjthat  had  never 
been  so  nearly  exemplified  as  by  myself.  And 
then  the  goodness  of  the  father  in  receiving, 
nay,  in  running  to  meet  such  a  son,  and  this 
intended  only  to  illustrate  the  Lord's  goodness 
to  returning  sinners. — Such  reflexions  gainings 
upon  me,  I  continued  much  in  prayer :  I  saw 
that  the  Lord  had  interposed.so  far  to  save  me, 
and  I  hoped  he  would  do  more.  Outward 
circumstances  helped  in  this  place  to  make  me 
still  more  serious  and  earnest  in  crying  to  Him 
who  alone  could  relieve  me ;  and  sometimes  I 
thought  I  could  be  content  to  die  even  for  want 
of  food,  so  I  might  but  die  a  believer. 

"  Thus  far  I  was  answered,  that  before  we 
arrived  in  Ireland,  I  had  a  satisfactory  evidence, 
in  my  own  mind,  of  the  truth  of  the  Gospel, 
as  considered  in  itself,  and  of  its  exact  suita- 
bleness to  answer  all  my  needs.  I  saw  that, 
by  the  way  they  were  pointed  out,  God  might 
declare  not  his  mercy  only,  but  his  justice  also, 
in  the  pardon  of  sin,  on  account  of  the  obedi- 


KEV.    JOHN     NEW  TON. 

1  sufferings  of  Jesus  Christ.  My  judg- 
ment at  that  time,  embraced  the  sublime  doc- 
trine of  '  God  manifest  in  the  flesh,  reconciling 
the  world  unto  himself.' — I  had  no  idea  of 
those   systems,    which   allow   t  .  lour  no 

higher  honour  than  that  of  an  upper  seavant, 
or  at  the  most  a  Demigod.  I  stood  in  need 
of  an  Almighty  Saviour,  and  such  a  one  I 
found  described  in  the  New  Testament.  Thus 
flu-  the  Lord  had  wrought  a  marvellous  thing  ; 
I  was  no  longer  an  infidel  ;  I  heartily  renoun- 
ced my  former  profaneness,  and  had  taken  up 
some  right  notions ;  was  seriously  disposed, 
and  sincerely  touched  with  a  sense  of  the  unde- 

ved  mercy  I  had  received,  in  being  brought 
safe  through  so  many  dangers.  I  was  sorry 
for  my  past  mispent  life,  and  purposed  an  im- 
mediate reformation.  I  was  quite  freed  from 
the  habit  of  swearing,  which  seemed  to  have 
been  deeply  rooted  in  me,  as  a  second  nature. 
Thus  to  all  appearance,  I  was  a  new  man. 

44  But  though  I  cannot  doubt  that  this 
change,  so  far  as  it  prevailed,  was  wrought  by 
the  spirit  and  power  of  God,  yet  still  I  was 
greatly  deficient  in  many  respects.  I  was  in 
some  degree  affected  with  a  sense  of  my  enor- 
mous sins,  but  I  was  little  awrare  of  the  innate 
evils  of  my  heart.  I  had  no  apprehension  of 
f  2 


67  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

the  spirituality  and  extent  of  the  law  of  God ; 
the  hidden  life  of  a  christian,  as  it  consists  in 
communion  with  God  by  Jesus  Christ :  a  con. 
tinual  dependance  on  him  for  hourly  supplies 
of  wisdom,  strength,  and  comfort,  was  a  mys- 
tery  of  which  I  had  as  yet  no  knowledge.     I 
acknowledged  the  Lord's  mercy  in  pardoning 
what  was  past,  but  depended  chiefly  upon  my 
own  resolution  to  do  better  for  the  time  to 
come.     I  had  no  christian  friend  or  faithful 
minister  to  advise  me  that  my  strength  was  no 
more  than   my  righteousness ;    and  though  I 
soon  began  to  inquire  for  serious  books,  yet, 
not  having  spiritual  discernment,  I  frequently 
made  a  wrong  choice  ;  and  I  was  not  brought 
in  the  way  of  evangelical  preaching  or  conver- 
sation (except  the  few  times  when  I  heard,  but 
understood  not)  for  six  years  after  this  period. 
Those  things  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  disco- 
ver to  me  gradually.     I  learnt  them   here  a 
little,  and  there  a  little,  by  my  own  painful  ex* 
perience,    at   a   distance  -from   the  commoa 
means  4and  ordinances,  and  in  the  midst  of  the 
same  course  of  evil  company  and  bad  exam- 
ples  I  had   been  conversant  with  for  some 
time. 

"  From  this  period  I  could  no  more  make 
;t  mock  at  sin,  or  jest  with  holy  things ;    I  n<* 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTOX.  67 

more  questioned  the  truth  of  scripture,  or 
lost  a  sense  of  the  rebukes  of  conscience. 
Therefore  I  consider  this,  as  the  beginning  of 
my  return  to  God,  or  rather  of  his  return  to 
me ;  but  I  cannot  consider  myself  to  have 
been  a  believer  (in  the  full  sense  of  the  word) 
till  a  considerable  time  afterwards. " 

While  the  ship  was  refitting  at  Lough 
S willy,  Mr,  N.  repaired  to  Londonderry, 
where  he  soon  recruited  his  health  and  strength. 
He  was  now  a  serious  professor,  went  twice 
a  day  to  the  prayers  at  church,  and  determin- 
ed to  receive  the  sacrament  the  next  opportu- 
nity. When  the  day  came,  he  arose  very 
early,  was  very  earnest  in  his  private  devo- 
tions, and  solemnly  engaged  himself  to  the 
Lord  ;  not  with  a  formal  but  sincere  surren- 
der, and  under  a  strong  sense  of  the  mercies 
lately  received.  Having,  however,  as  yet  but 
an  imperfect  knowledge  of  his  own  heart,  and 
of  the  subtlety  of  Satan's  temptations,  he  was 
afterwards  seduced  to  forget  the  vows  of  God 
that  were  upon  him.  Yet  he  felt  a  peace  and 
satisfaction  in  the  ordinance  of  that  day,  to 
which  he  had  been  hitherto  an  utter  stranger. 

The  next  day  he  went  abroad  with  the  may., 
or  of  the  city,  and  some  gentlemen,  a  shoot- 
ing ;    climbing  up  a  steep  bank,  and  pulling 


08  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

his  fowling-piece  in  a  perpendicular  direction 
after  him,  it  went  oft'  so  near  his  face  as  to 
destroy  the  corner  of  his  hat.  The  remark 
he  makes  on  this  ought  not  to  be  omitted : 
u  Thus  when  we  think  ourselves  in  the  greatest 
safety,  we  are  no  less  exposed  to  danger  than 
when  all  the  elements  seem  conspiring  to  de- 
stroy us.  The  Divine  Providence,  which  is 
sufficient  to  deliver  us  in  our  utmost  extremi- 
ty, is  equally  necessary  to  our  preservation  in 
the  most  peaceful  situation." 

During  their  stay  in  Ireland,  Mr.  N.  wrote 
home.  The  vessel  he  was  in  had  not  been 
heard  of  for  eighteen  months,  and. was  given 
up  for  lost.  His  father  had  no  expectation  of 
hearing  that  his  son  was  alive,  but  received 
his  letter  a  few  days  before  he  embarked  from 
London  to  become  g-overnour  of  York  Fort, 
in  Hudson's  Bay,  where  he  died.  He  had  in- 
tended to  take  his  son  with  him  had  he  return- 
ed to  England  in  time.  Mr.  N.  received  two 
or  three  affectionate  letters  from  his  father  ; 
and  hoped  that  in  three  years  more,  he  should 
have  had  the  opportunity  of  asking  his  forgive- 
ness, for  the  uneasiness  his  disobedience  had 
occasioned ;  but  the  ship  that  was  to  have 
brought  his  father  home  came  without  him. 
Jt  appears   he  wras    seized  with  the   cramp, 


3     NEWTO x .  i  I 

whin  bathing,   and  was  drowned  before 
ship  arrived   in  the  bay.     Before  his   father's 

departure  from  England,  he  had  paid  a  visit 
in  Kent,  and  gave  his  consent  to  the  union 
that  had  been  so  long  talked  of. 
Mr.  N.  arrived  at  Liverpool,  the  latter  end 
May  1748,  about  the  same  day  that  his  Fa- 
ther sailed  from  the  Nore.  He  found,  how- 
ever, fnother  father  in  the  gentleman  whose 
ship  had  brought  him  home.  This  friend  re- 
ceived him  with  great  tenderness,  and  the 
strongest  assurances  of  assistance  ;  yet  not 
stronger  than  he  afterwards  fulfilled,  for  to 
this  instrument  of  God's  goodness,  he  felt  he 
owed  every  thing.  "  Yet,"  as  Mr.  N.  justly 
observes,  "  it  would  not  have  been  in  the 
power  even  of  this  friend,  to  have  served  me 
effectually,  if  the  Lord  had  not  met  me  on  my 
way  home,  as  I  have  related.  Till  then,  I 
was  like  the  man  possessed  with  the  Legion. 
No  arguments,  no  persuasion,  no  views  of 
interest,  no  remembrance  of  the  past,  nor  re- 
gard to  the  future  could  have  restrained  me 
within  the  bounds  of  common  prudence  ;  but 
now  I  was  in  some  measure  restored  to  my 
senses." 

This   friend    immediately  offered   Mr.   N. 
the  command  of  a  ship,  which,  upon  mature 


70  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

consideration,  he  for  the  present  declined.  He 
prudently  considered  that,  hitherto,  he  had 
been  unsettled,  and  careless  ;  and  therefore 
that  he  had  better  make  another  voyage,  and 
learn  obedience,  and  acquire  further  expe- 
rience in  business,  before  he  ventured  to  un- 
dertake such  a  charge.  The  mate  of  the  ves- 
sel, in  which  he  came  home,  was  preferred  to 
the  command  of  a  new  ship,  and  Mr.  pi.  en- 
gaged to  go  in  the  station  of  mate  with  him. 

There  was  something  so  peculiar  in  Mr.  N's 
case,  after  this  extraordinary  deliverance,  and 
because  others  in  like  circumstances  might  be 
tempted  to  despair,  that  I  think  it  proper  to 
make  another  extract  from  his  Narrative ;  as 
such  accounts  cannot  be  well  conveyed  but  in 
his  own  words. 

"  We  must  not  make  the  experience  of 
others  in  all  respects  a  rule  to  ourselves,  nor 
our  own  a  rule  to  others :  yet  these  are  com- 
mon mistakes,  and  productive  of  many  more. 
As  to  myself,  every  part  of  my  case  has  been 
extraordinary — I  have  hardly  met  a  single  in- 
stance resembling  it.  Few,  very  few,  have  been 
recovered  from  such  a  dreadful  state ;  and  the 
few  that  have  been  thus  favoured,  have  general- 
ly passed  through  the  most  severe  convictions  ; 
and,  after  the  Lord  has  given  them  peace, 


REV.  JOHN    K£WX<  71 

their  future  lives  fa;  h  usually  more  .. 

Ions,   bright,    and    i  than    common. 

Now,  as  on  the  one  hand,  my  convictions  v. 
very  moderate,  and  far  below  what  might  have 
been  expected  from  the  dreadful  review  I  had 
to  make  ;  so,  on  the  other,  my  first  beginnings 
in  a  religious  course  were  as  faint  as  can  be 
well  imagined.    I  never  knew  that  season  allu- 
ded to,  Jer.  ii.   2. — Rev.  ii.  4.  usually  called 
the  time  of  the  first  love.    Who  would  not  ex- 
pect to  hear  that,  after  such  a  wonderful  and 
unhoped-for    deliverance   as   I  had  received, 
and,  after  my  eyes  were  in  some  measure  en- 
lightened to  see  things  aright,  I  should  imme- 
diately cleave  to  the  Lord  and  his  Ways  with 
full  purpose  of  heart,  and  consult  no  more  with 
flesh  and  blood  ?  But  alas  !    it  was  far  other- 
wise with  me ;   I  had  learned  to  pray ;   I  set 
some  value  upon  the  word  of  God  ;  and  wos 
no  longer  a  libertine  ;  but  my  soul  still  cleaved 
to  the  dust.    Soon  after  my  departure  from  Li- 
verpool, I  began  to  intermit  and  grow  slack  in 
waiting  upon  the  Lord  :   I  grew  vain  and  tri- 
fling   in   my   conversation  ;    and   though   my 
heart   smote  me   often,   yet  my  armour  w 
gone,  and  I  declined  fast :  and  by  the -time  we 
arrived  at  Guinea,  I  seemed  to  have  forgotten 
all  the  Lord's  mercies,  and  my  own  engagq? 


72  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

meats,  and  was  (profaneness  excepted)  almost 
as  bad  as  before.  The  enemy  prepared  a  train 
of  temptations,  and  I  became  liis  easy  prey  ; 
for  about  a  month  he  lulled  me  asleep  in  a 
course  of  evil,  of  which,  a  few  months  before, 
I  could  not  have  supposed  myself  any  longer 
capable.  How  much  propriety  is  there  in  the 
Apostle's  advice,  i  Take  heed  lest  any  of  you 
4  be  hardened  through  the  deceitfulness  of 
'  sin.'  " 

In  this  voyage  Mr.  N.'s  business,  while  up- 
on the  coast,  was  to  sail  in  the  long-boat,  from 
place  to  place,  in  order  to  purchase  slaves.  The 
ship,  at  this  time,  was  at  Sierra  Leone  and  he 
4it  the  Plantanes,  the  scene  of  his  former  cap- 
tivity, and  where  every  thing  he  saw  tended  to 
remind  him  of  his  present  ingratitude.  He 
was  now  in  easy  circumstances,  and  courted  by 
those  who  had  once  despised  him.  The  lime- 
trees,  he  had  formerly  planted,  were  growing 
tall,  and  promised  fruit,  upon  his  expected  re- 
turn with  a  ship  of  his  own.  Unaffected,  how- 
ever, w  ith  these  things,  he  needed  another  pro- 
vidential interposition  to  rouse  him ;  and  ac- 
cordit^];:  lie  was  visited  with  a  violent  fever, 
which  broke  the  fatal  chain,  and  once  more 
brought  him  to  himself.  Alarmed  at  the  pros- 
pect before  him,  he  thought  himself  now  sum- 


.    JOHN     NEWTON. 

inoned  away.    The  dangers  and  defiveranc 

through  which  he  had  passed — his  earnest 
prayers  in  the  time  of  trouble — his  solemn 
vows  Before  the  Lord  at  his  table — and  his  un- 
grateful returns  for  all  his  goodness  were  pi 
sent  at  once  to  his  mind.  He  began  then  to 
wish  that  he  had  sunk  in  the  ocean,  when  he 
first  cried  for  mercy.  For  a  short  time,  he 
concluded  that  the  door  of  hope  was  quite 
shut.  Weak,  and  almost  delirious,  he  arose 
from  his  bed,  crept  to  a  retired  part  of  the  is- 
land, and  here  found  a  renewed  liberty  in  pray- 
er :  daring  to  make  no  more  resolves,  he  cast 
himself  upon  the  Lord,  to  do  with  him  as  he 
should  please. — It  does  not  appear  that  any 
thing  new  was  presented  to  his  mind,  but  that 
in  general,  he  was  enabled  to  hope  and  believe 
in  a  crucified  Saviour. 

After  this,  the  burden  was  removed  from 
his  conscience,  and  not  only  his  peace,  but  his 
health  was  gradually  restored  when  he  returned 
to  the  ship.  And  though  subject  to  the  effects 
and  conflicts  of  sin,  dwelling  in  him;  he  t 
ever  after  delivered  from  the  power  and  domi* 
nion  of  it. 

His   leisure  hours,   in   this  voyage,    i 
chiefly  employed  in  acquiring  Latin,  which  he 
had  now  almost  forgotten.    This  desire  took 
G 


74  MEMOIRS    OY    THE 

place  from  an  imitation  he  had  seen  of  one  of 
Horace's  Odes  in  a  magazine.  In  this  at- 
tempt at  one  of  the  most  difficult  of  the  poets, 
he  had  no  other  help  than  an  old  English  tran- 
slation, with  Castalio's  Latin  Bible.  He  had 
the  edition  in  mum  Delphini^  and  by  compa-* 
ring  the  odes  with  the  interpretation,  and 
tracing  such  words  as  he  understood  from 
place  to  place  by  the  index,  together  with 
what  assistance  he  could  get  from  the  Latin 
Bible,  he  thus,  by  dint  of  hard  industry,  made 
some  progress.  He  not  only  understood  the 
sense  of  many  Odes,  and  some  of  the  Epis- 
tles, but  "  I  began,"  says  he,  "  to  relish  the 
beauties  of  the  composition  ;  acquired  a  species 
of  what  Mr.  Law  calls  classical  enthusiasm 9 
and,  indeed,  by  this  means,  I  had  Horace 
more  ad  unguemy  than  some  who  are  masters 
of  the  Latin  tongue.  For  my  helps  were  so 
few,  that  I  generally  had  the  passage  fixed  in 
my  memory  before  I  could  fully  understand 
its  meaning." 

During  the  eight  months  they  were  employ- 
ed upon  the  coast,  Mr.  N.'s  business  exposed 
him  to  innumerable  dangers,  from  burning 
suns,  chilling  dews,  winds,  rains,  and  thunder- 
storms, in  an  open  boat ;  and  on  shore,  from 
long  journies  through  the  woods,  and  from 


REV,    JOHN  .NEWTO  N  /J 

the  natives,  who,  in  many  ph  cruel, 

treacherous,  and  watching  opportunities  for 
mischief.  Several  boats,  during  this  time, 
were  cut  off — several  white  men  poisoned — 
and  from  his  own  boat,  he  buried  six  or  se^ 
people,  with  fevers ;  when  going  on  shore,  or 
returning,  he  was  more  than  once  overset  by 
the  violence  of  the  surf,  and  brought  to  land 
half  dead,  as  he  could  not  swim.  Among  a 
number  of  such  escapes,  which  remained  up- 
on his  memory,  the  following  will  mark  the 
singular  providence  that  was  over  him. 

On  finishing  their  trade,  and  being  about  to 
sail  to  the  West- Indies,  the  only  service  Mr. 
N.  had  to  perform  in  the  boat,  was  to  assist  in 
bringing  the  wood  raid  water  from  the  shore. 
They  were  then  at  Rio  Cestors.  He  used  to 
go  into  the  river,  in  the  afternoon,  with  the  sea- 
breeze,  to  procure  his  lading  in  the  evening, 
in  order  to  return  on  board  in  the  morning 
with  the  land-wind.  Several  of  these  little- 
voyages  he  had  made  ;  but  the  boat  was  grown 
old  and  almost  unfit  for  use  ;  this  service  like- 
wise was  almost  completed.  One  day  having 
dined  on  board,  he  was  preparing  to  return 
to  the  river  as  formerly  :  he  had  takui 
leave  of  the  captain  ;  received  his  orders  ;  was 
ready  in  the  boat ;  and  just  going  to  put  off. 


MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

In  that  instant  the  captain  came  up  from  the 
cabin,  and  called  him  on  board  again.  Mr. 
N.  went,  expecting  further  orders,  but  the 
captain  said,  "  he  had  taken  it  into  his  head" 
(as  he  phrased  it)  that  Mr.  N.  should  remain 
that  day  in  the  ship,  and  accordingly  ordered 
another  man  to  go  in  his  room.  Mr.  N.  was 
surprised  at  this,  as  the  boat  had  never  been 
sent  away  without  him  before.  He  asked  the 
captain  the  reason  of  his  resolution,  but  none 
was  assigned,  except  as  above,  that  so  he 
would  have  it.  The  boat,  therefore,  wrent 
without  Mr.  N.  but  returned  no  more ;  it 
sunk  that  night  in  the  river  ;  and  the  person 
who  supplied  Mr.  N.'s  place  was  drowned! 
Mr.  N.  was  much  struck,  when  news  of  the 
event  wras  received  the  next  morning, — The 
captain  himself,  though  quite  a  stranger  to  re- 
ligion, even  to  the  denying  a  particular  provi- 
dence, could  not  help  being  affected  ;  but  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  other  reason  for  coun- 
termanding Mr,  N.  at  that  time,  but  that  it 
came  suddenly  into  his  mind  to  detain  him. 

A  short  time  after  he  was  thus  surprising- 
ly preserved,  they  sailed  for  Antigua;  and 
from  thence  to  Charles-town,  in  South  Caro- 
lina. In  that  place  there  were  many  serious 
people ;    but  at  this  time,   Mr.  N.  was  little 


U£V.   JO  WTON. 

able  of  availing  himself  of  tin 
supposing  that  all  who  attended  public  w 
ship  were  good  christians,   and  that  whate^s 

ne  from  the  pulpit  must  be  very  good. 
He  had  two  or  three  opportunities,  indeed,  of 
hearing  a  minister  of  eminent  character  and 
gifts,  whom,  though  struck  with  his  manner, 
he  did  not  rightly  understand.  Almost  every 
day,  when   business  would  permit,  he  used  to 

ire   into  the    woods  and  fields,    (being  his 
favourite  oratories)  and  began  to  taste  the  de- 
light of  communion  with  God,    in  the  exer- 
cises of  prayer  and  praise  :    and  yet  so  much 
inconsistency    prevailed,    that   he    frequently 
spent  the  evening  in  vain  and  worthless  com- 
pany.    His  relish,  indeed,  for  worldly  dr. 
sions  was  much  weakened  ;  and  he  was  rather 
a  spectator  than  a  sharer  in   their  pleasures ; 
but  he  did  not  as  yet  see  the  necessity  of  ab- 
solutely relinquishing  such   society.      It  ap- 
pears, that  compliances   of  this  sort,    in  his 
present  circumstances,  were  owing  rather  to 
a  want  of  light,   than  to  any  obstinate  attach- 
ment ;  as  he  was  kept  from  what  he  knew  to 
be  sinful,  he  had,  for  the  most  part,  peace  of 
conscience  ;    and  his   strongest  desires  w< 
towards  the  things  of  God.     He  did  not  as 
yet  apprehend  the  force  of  that  precept  "  Ab- 
G  2 


78  MEMOIRS,  Or    THE 

stain  from  all  appearance  of  evil;"  but  he 
very  often  ventured  upon  the  brink  of  temp- 
tation. He  did  not  break  with  the  world  at 
once,  as  might  have  been  expected ;  but  was 
gradually  led  to  see  tlif.  inconvenience  and 
folly  of  first  one  thing,  and  then  another ;  and, 
as  such,  to  give  them  up. 

They  finished  their  voyage,  and  arrived  in 
Liverpool.  When  the  ship's  affairs  were  set- 
tled, Mr.  N.  went  to  London,  and  frdm  thence 
tie  soon  repaired  to  Kent.  More  than  seven 
years  had  now  elapsed  since  his  first  visit : 
no  views  of  the  kind  seemed  more  chimerical 
than  his  ;  or  could  subsist  under  greater  dis- 
couragement ;  yet,  while  he  seemed  abandon- 
ed to  his  passions,  he  was  still  guided  by  a 
hand  that  he  knew  not,  to  the  accomplishment 
of  his  wishes.  Every  obstacle  was  now  re- 
moved— he  had  renounced  his  former  follies 
- — his  intesest  was  established — and  friends  on 
all  sides  consenting.  The  point  was  now  en- 
tirely between  the  parties  immediately  con- 
cerned, and,  after  what  had  passed,  was  easily 
concluded;  accordingly  their  hands  were 
-joined,  February  the  1st,  1750. 

"  But  alas,"  says  he,  "  this  mercy  which 
raised  me  to  all  I  could  ask  or  wish  in  a  tem- 
poral view,  and  which  ought  to  have  been  an 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  79 

animating    motive   to  ce  and  praise, 

had  a   contrary  effect. — I  i  j;iit, 

and  forgot  the  giver.     My  poor  narrow  heart 
was  satisfied. — A  cold  and  s  frame,  as 

to  spiritual  things,  took  place,  and  gained 
ground  daily.  Happy  for  me,  the  season  was 
advancing ;  and  in  June  I  received  orders  to 
repair  to  Liverpool.  This  roused  me  from 
ni}'  dream  ;  and  I  found  the  pains  of  absence 
and  separation  fully  proportioned  to  my  pre- 
ceding pleasure.  (See  Note  A.)  Through 
all  my  following  voyage,  my  irregular  and  < 
cessive  affections  were  as  thorns  in  my  ej 
and  often  made  my  other  blessings  tasteless 
and  insipid.  But  He  who  doth  all  things 
well,  over-ruled  this  likewise  for  good  :  it  be- 
came an  occasion  of  quickening  me  in  pray 
both  for  her  and  myself:  it  increased  my  in- 
difference for  company  and  amusement ;  it 
habituated  me  to  a  kind  of  voluntary  self-de- 
nial, which  I  was  afterwards  taught  to  improve 
to  a  better  purpose." 

Mr.  N.  sailed  from  Liverpool,  in  August 
1750,  commander  of  a  good  ship.  He  had 
now  the  command  and  care  of  thirty  persons  : 
he  endeavoured  to  treat  them  with  humanity  ; 
and  to  set  them  a  good  example.  (See  Note 
B.)     He  likewise  established  public  worship, 


80  MEMOIRS    OP     THE 

according  to  the  Liturgy  of  the  church  of 
England,  officiating  himself  twice  ever) 
Lord's  Day.  He  did  not  proceed  further  than 
this,  while  he  continued  in  that  occupation. 

Having  now  much  leisure,  he  prosecuted 
the  study  of  Latin  with  good  success.  He 
remembered  to  take  a  dictionary  this  voyage  ; 
and  added  Juvenal  to  Horace  ;  and  for  prose 
authors,  Livy,  Caesar,  and  Saliust.  He  was 
not  aware  of  the  mistake  of  beginning  with 
such  difficult  writers  ;  but  having  heard  Livy 
highly  commended,  he  wras  resolved  to  under- 
stand him  :  he  began  with  the  first  page,  and 
made  it  a  rule  not  to  proceed  to  a  second,  till 
he  understood  the  first.  Often  at  a  stand, 
but  seldom  discouarged,  here  and  there  he 
found  a  few  lines  quite  obstinate,  and  wras 
forced  to  give  them  up,  especially  as  his  edi- 
tion had  no  notes.  Before,  however,  the  close 
of  that  voyage,  he  informs  us  that  he  could^ 
with  a  few  exceptions,  read  Livy  almost  as 
readily  as  an  English  author.  Other  prose 
authors,  he  says,  cost  him  but  little  trouble, 
as  in  surmounting  the  former  difficulty,  he 
had  mastered  all  in  one.  In  short,  in  the  space 
of  two  or  three  voyages,  he  became  tolerably 
acquainted  with  the  best  classics.  He  read 
Terence,  Virgil,  several  pieces  of  Cicero,  and 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTON.  81 

the  modern  classics,  Buchannan,  Erasmus, 
and  Casimir  :  and  made  some  essays  towards 
writing  elegant  Latin. 

"  But  by  this  time,"  he  observes,  "  the 
Lord  was  pleased  to  draw  me  nearer  to  him- 
self; and  to  give  me  a  fuller  view  of  the  pearl 
of  great  price — the  inestimable  treasure  hid  in 
the  field  of  the  holy  Scripture  :  and  for  the  sake 
of  this,  I  was  made  willing  to  part  w  ith  all  my 
newly  acquired  riches,  I  began  to  think  that 
life  was  too  short  (especially  my  life)  to  ad- 
mit of  leisure  for  such  elaborate  trifling.  Nei- 
ther poet  nor  historian  could  tell  me  a  word  of 
Jesus  ;  and  I  therefore  applied  myself  to  those 
who  could.  The  classics  were  at  first  re- 
strained to  one  morning  in  the  week,  and  at 
length  laid  aside." 

This,  his  first  voyage  after  his  marriage, 
lasted  the  space  of  fourteen  months,  through 
various  scenes  of  danger  and  difficulty ;  but 
nothing  very  remarkable  occurred :  and  after 
having  seen  many  fall  on  his  right  hand  and  on 
his  left,  he  was  brought  home  in  peace,  No- 
vember  2,  1751. 

In  the  interval  between  his  first  and  second 
voyage,  he  speaks  of  the  use  he  found  in  ke 
ing  a  sort  of  diary — of  the  unfavourable  ten- 
dency of  a  life  of  ease;  airiong  his  friends,  and 


H2  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

of  the  satisfaction  of  his  wishes  proving  unfa- 
vourable to  the  progress  of  grace  ;  upon  the 
whole,  however,  lie  seems  to  have  gained 
ground,  and  was  led  into  further  views  of 
Christian  doctrine  and  experience  by  ScougaPs 
Life  of  God  in  the  Soul  of  Man,  Hervey's 
Meditations,  and  the  Life  of  Col.  Gardiner. 
He  seems  to  have  derived  no  advantages  from 
the  preaching  he  heard,  or  the  Christian  ac- 
quaintance he  made  ;  and  though  he  could  not 
live  without  prayer,  he  durst  not  propose  it, 
even  to  his  wife,  till  she  fi  rst  urged  him  to  the 
mutual  practice  of  it. 

In  a  few  months,  the  returning  season  called 
him  abroad  again,  and  he  sailed  from  Liver- 
pool in  a  new  ship,  July  1752.  (See  note  C.) 
"  I  never  knew,"  says  he,  "  sweeter  or  more 
frequent  hours  of  divine  communion,  than  in 
my  two  last  voyages  to  Guinea,  when  I  was 
either  almost  secluded  from  society  on  ship- 
board, or  when  on  shore  among  the  natives. 
I  have  wandered  through  the  woods,  reflecting 
on  the  singular  goodness  of  the  Lord  to  me,  in 
a  place  where,  perhaps,  there  was  not  a  person 
who  knew  me  for  some  thousand  miles  round. 
Many  a  time,  upon  these  occasions,  I  have  re- 
stored the  beautiful  lines  of  Propertius  to  the 
right  owner ;  lines  full  of  blasphemy  and  mad- 


REV.  JOHN    NEWTON-  8^ 

ncss,  when  addressed  to  a  creature,  but  fill 
comfort  and  propriety  in  the  mouth  of  a  be- 
liever." 

Sic  ego  descrtis  possim  bene  vivere  sylvis 
Quo  nulla  humano  sit  via  trita  pede ; 

Tu  m&i  curarum  requies,  in  nocte  vel  a 
Lumen,  ct  in  solis  tu  mihi  turba  I 

PARAPHRASED, 

In  desert  woods  with  thee,  my  God, 
Where  human  footsteps  never  trod, 

How  happy  could  I  be  ! 
Thou  my  repose  from  care,  my  light 
Amidst  the  darkness  of  the  night, 

In  solitude  my  company. 

In  the  course  of  this  voyage,  Mr,  i< 
wonderfully  preserved  through  many  unfi 
seen  dangers.     At  one  time  there  was  a  < 
spiracy  among  his  own  people  to  become  pi- 
rates, and  take  possession  of  the  ship.    When 
the  plot  wras  nearly  ripe,  they  watched  only  for 
opportunity  ;  two  of  them  were  taken  ill  in  one 
day  ;  one  of  them  died.     This  suspended  the 
affair,  and  opened  away  to  its  discovery.    The 
slaves  on  board  frequently  plotted  insurrectl 
and  were  sometimes  upon  the  very  brink   of 
one,  when  it  was  disclosed. — When  at 


84  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

called  Mana,  near  Cape  Mount,   Mi\  N.  in- 
tended to  go  on  shore  the  next  morning  to 
settle  some  business  ;  but  the  surf  of  the  sea 
ran  so  high,  that  he  was  afraid  to   attempt 
landing.     He  had  often  ventured  at  a  worse 
time,  but  then  feeling  a  backwardness  which 
he  could  not  account  for,  the  high  surf  fur- 
nished a  pretext  for  indulging  it :  he  therefore 
returned  to  the  ship  without  doing  any  busi- 
ness.   He  afterwards  found,  that  on  the  day  he 
intended  to  land,  a  scandalous  and  groundless 
charge  had  been  laid  against  him,  which  greatly 
threatened  his  honour  and  interest,   both   in 
Africa  and  England ;  and  would  perhaps  have 
affected  his  life,  had  he  landed.     The  person 
most  concerned  in  this  affair  owed  him  kbout 
an  hundred  pounds,  which  he  sent  in  a  huff, 
ancl  otherwise,  perhaps,  would  not  have  paid 
it  at  all.     Mr.  N.  heard  no  more  of  this  accu- 
sation till  the  next  voyage,  and  then  it  was 
publicly  acknowledged  to  have  been  a  mali- 
cious calumny,  without  the  least  shadow  of 
a  ground. 

But  as  these  things  did  not  occur  every  day, 
Mr.  N.  prosecuted  his  Latin,  being  very  re- 
gular in  the  management  of  his  time.  He  al- 
lotted about  eight  hours  for  sleep  and  meals, 
eight  hours  for  exercise  and  devotion,   and 


ITEV.   JOHN    NEWTON".  85 

eight  hours  to  his  books  ;  and  thus  by  dh 
sifying  his  engagements,  the  whole   day  was 
agreeably  filled  up. 

From  the  coast,  he  went  to  St.  Christo- 
pher's,  where  he  met  with  a  great  disappoint- 
ment :  for  the  letters  which  he  expected  from 
Mrs.  N.  were,  by  mistake,  forwarded  to  Anti- 
gua. Certain  of  her  punctuality  m  writing,  if 
alive,  he  concluded  by  not  hearing  from  her, 
that  she  was  surely  dead.  This  fear  deprived 
him  of  his  appetite  and  rest — caused  an  inces- 
sant pain  in  his  stomach,  and,  in  the  space  of 
three  weeks,  he  was  near  sinking  under  the 
weight  of  an  imaginary  stroke.  H  I  felt,"  says 
he,  "  some  severe  symptoms  of  that  mixture 
of  pride  and  madness,  commonly  called  a  bro- 
ken heart ;  and,  indeed,  I  wonder  that  this 
case  is  not  more  common.  How  often  do  the 
potsherds  of  the  earth  presume  to  contend  with 
their  Maker  !  and  what  a  wonder  of  mercy  is 
it  that  they  are  not  all  broken  ?  This  was  a 
sharp  lesson,  but  I  hope  it  did  me  good;  an$ 
when  I  had  thus  suffered  some  weeks,  I 
thought  of  sending  a  small  vessel  to  Antigua;. 
I  did  so,  and  she  brought  me  several  packets, 
which  restored  my  health  and  peace,  and  gave 
me  a  strong  contrast  of  the  Lord's  goodncv 

H 


86  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

me,  and  of  my  unbelief  and  ingratitude  to- 
wards him." 

In  August,  1753,  Mr.  N,  returned  to  Li- 
verpool ; — after  that  voyage,  he  continued  on- 
ly six  weeks  at  home,  and,  in  that  space,  no- 
thing very  memorable  occurred. 

We  now  follow  Mr.  N.  in  his  third  voyage 
to  Guinea  :  it  seems  to  be  the  shortest  of  any 
that  he  had  made,  and  which  is  principally 
marked  by  an  account  of  a  young  man  who 
had  formerly  been  a  midshipman,  and  his  in- 
timate companion  on  board  the  Harwich.  This 
youth,  at  the  time  Mr.  N.  first  knew  him,  was 
sobers  but  afterwards  sadly  infected  with  Mr. 
N.'s  then  libertine  principles.  They  met  at 
Liverpool,  and  renewed  their  former  acquaint- 
ance ;  as  their  conversation  frequently  turned 
upon  religion,  Mr.  N.  was  very  desirous  to 
recover  his  companion,  to  whom  he  gave  a 
plain  account  of  the  manner  and  reasons  of  his 
own  change,  and  used  every  argument  to  in- 
duce him  to  relinquish  his  infidelity.  When 
pressed  very  close,  his  usual  reply  was,  that 
Mr.  N.  was  the  first  person  who  had  given 
him  an  idea  of  his  liberty,  which  naturally  oc- 
casioned many  mournful  reflections  in  the 
mind  of  his  present  instructor.  This  person 
was  going  master  to   Guinea  himself;    but 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  87 

meeting  with  disappointment,  Mr.  N.  offered 
to  take  him  as  a  companion,  with  a  view  of  as- 
sisting  him  ,in  gaining  future  employment , 
but  principally,  that  his  arguments,  example, 
and  prayers  might  be  attended  with  good 
feet.  But  his  companion  was  exceedingly 
profane  ;  grew  worse  and  worse  ;  and  present- 
ed a  lively,  but  distressing  picture,  continual- 
ly before  Mr.  N.'s  eyes,  of  what  he  himself 
had  once  been.— Besides  this,  the  man  was 
not  only  deaf  to  remonstrance  himself,  but  la- 
boured to  counteract  Mr.  N's  influence  upon 
others  :  his  spirit  and  passions  were  likewise 
so  exceedingly  high,  that  it  required  all  Mr. 
N.'s  prudence  and  authority  to  hold  him  in 
any  degree  of  restraint. 

At  length  Mr.  N.  had  an  opportunity  of 
buying  a  small  vessel,  which  he  supplied  with 
a  cargo  from  his  own  ship : — he  gave  his  com- 
panion  the  command  of  it ;  and  sent  him  away 
to  trade  on  the  ship's  account.  When  they 
parted,  Mr.  N.  repeated  and  enforced  his  best 
advice  ;  it  seemed  greatly  to  affect  his  compa- 
nion at  the  time  ;  but  when  he  found  himself 
released  from  the  restraint  of  his  instructor,  he 
gave  a  loose  to  every  appetite  ;  and  his  violent 
irregularities,  joined  to  the  heat  of  the  climate, 
soon  threw  him  into  a  malignant  fever,  which 


88  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

carried  him  off  in  a  few  days.  He  seems  to 
have  died  convinced,  but  not  changed:  his 
rage  and  despair  struck  those  who  were  about 
him  with  horror  ;  and  he  pronounced  his  own 
fatal  doom  before  he  expired,  without  any  sign 
that  he  either  hoped  or  asked  for  mercy. — I 
hope  the  reader  will  deem  the  features  of  this 
awful  case  (though  a  digression  from  the  prin- 
cipal subject)  too  instructive  to  be  omitted. 

Mr.  N.  left  the  coast  in  about  four  months, 
and  sailed  for  St.  Christopher's.  Hitherto,  he 
iiad  enjoyed  a  perfect  and  equal  state  of  health 
in  different  climates  for  several  vears.  But  in 
this  passage,  he  was^  visited  with  a  fever,  which 
gave  him  a  very  near  prospect  of  eternity  :  he 
was,  however,  supported  in  a  silent  composure 
of  spirit  by  the  faith  of  Jesus,  and  found  great 
relief  from  those  words,  He  is  able  to  save  to 
the  uttermost.  He  was  for  a  while  troubled, 
whether  by  a  temptation,  or  by  the  fever  dis- 
ordering his  faculties,  that  he  should  be  lost  or 
overlooked  amidst  the  myriads  that  are  conti- 
nually entering  the  unseen  world  ;  but  the  re- 
collection of  that  Scripture — the  Lord  know- 
eth  them  that  are  his,  put  an  end  to  his  doubts. 
After  a  few  days,  however,  he  began  to  amend, 
and  by  the  time  they  arrived  in  the  West- In* 
dies,  he  was  perfectly  recovered. 


REV.   JOHN    NF.WTOX.  89 

In  this  way,  he  was  led  for  about  the  space 
of  six  years  :  he  had  learnt  something  of  the 
evil  of  his  heart — had  read  the  Bible  over  and 
over — had  perused  several  religious  books — 
and  "had  a  general  view  of  Gospel  truth;  but 
his  conceptions  still  remained  confused  in  ma- 
ny respects,  not  having  in  all  this  time  met 
with  one  acquaintance  qualified  to  assist  his 
inquiries. 

On  his  arrival  at  St.  Christopher's,  he  found 
a  captain  of  a  ship  from  London,  a  man  of  ex- 
perience in  the  things  of  God.  Forrnear  a 
month,  they  spent  every  evening  together  on 
board  each  other's  ship  alternately  ;  prolong- 
ing their  visits  till  near  daybreak.  While  Mr. 
N.  was  an  eager  recipient,  his  companion's 
discourse  not  only  informed  his  understand- 
ing, but  inflamed  his  heart — encouraged  him 
in  attempting  social  prayer — taught  him  they 
advantage  of  Christian  converse — put  him  up- 
on an  attempt  to  make  his  profession  more 
public — and  to  venture  to  speak  for  God. 
His  conceptions  now  became  more  clear  and 
evangelical ;  he  was  delivered  from  a  fear, 
which  had  long  troubled  him,  of  relapsing  in- 
to his  former  apostacy  ;  and  taught  to  expect 
preservation,  not  from  his  owrn  power  and  ho- 
liness, but  jrom  the  power  and  promise  of 
H  2 


90  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

God.  From  this  friend  he  likewise  received  a 
general  view  of  the  present  state  of  religion, 
and  of  the  prevailing  errors  and  controversies 
of  the  times,  and  a  direction  where  to  inquire 
in" London,  for  further  instruction.  Mr.  N.'s 
passage  homewards  gave  him  leisure  to  digest 
what  he  had  received ;  and  he  arrived  safely 
at  Liverpool,  August  1754.    (See  Note  D.) 

His  stay  at  home,  however,  was  intended  to 
be  but  short ;  and  by  the  beginning  of  No- 
vember he  was  ready  again  for  the  sea.  But 
the  Lord  saw  fit  to  over-rule  his  design,  it 
seems,  from  the  account  he  gives,  that  he  had 
not  the  least  scruple  as  to  the  lawfulness  of 
the  slave-trade ;  he  considered  it  as  the  ap- 
pointment of  Providence:  he  considered  this 
employment  as  respectable  and  profitable  :  yet 
he  could  not  help  considering  himself  as  a  sort 
of  jailor,  and  was  sometimes  shocked  with  an 
employment  so  conversant  wilflk  chains,  bolts, 
and  shackles.  On  this  account  he  had  often 
prayed  that  he  might  be  fixed  in  a  more  hu- 
mane profession,  where  he  might  enjoy  more 
frequent  communion  with  the  people  and  ordi- 
nances of  God  ;  and  be  freed  from  those  long, 
domestic  separations  which  he  found  so  hard 
to  bear.  His  prayers  were  now  answered, 
though  in  an  unexpected  way. 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  91 

Mr.  N.  was  within  two  days  of  sailing,  and 
in  apparent  good  health ;    but  as  he  was   i 
afternoon  drinking  tea  with  Mrs.   N.  he  was 
seized  with  a  fit,  which  deprived  him  of  s< 
and  motion.   When  he  had  recovered  from  this 
fit,  which  lasted  about  an  hour,  it  left  a  pain 
and  dizziness  in  his  head,   which  continued 
with  such  symptoms,  as  induced  the  physicians 
Tb  judge  it  would  not  be  safe  for  him  to  pro- 
d  on  the  voyage.  By  the  adviee  of  a  friend, 
therefore,   to  whom; the  ship  belonged,  he  re- 
signed the  command  on   the  day  before  she 
sailed  :  and  thus  he  was  not  only  freed  frori^. 
that  service,  but  from  the  future  consequencj^Hj 
of  a  voyage  which  proved  extremely  calami- 
tous.    The  person  who  went   in   his  room, 
died  ;  as  did  most  of  the  officers,  and  many  of 
the  crew.  • 

As  Mr.  N.  was  now  disengaged  from  bu- 
siness, he  left  Lijprpool,  and  spent  most  of  the 
following  year  in  London,  or  in  Kent.  Here 
he  entered  upon  a  new  trial,  in  a  disorder  that 
was  brought  upon  Mrs.  N.  from  the  shock  she 
received  in  his  late  illness  ;  as  he  grew  better- 
she  became  worse  with  a  disorder  which  the 
physicians  could  not  define,  nor  medicines  re- 
move. Mr.  N.  was  therefore  placed  for  about 
eleven  months  in  what  Dr.  Young  calls  the 


92  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

Dreadful  post  of  observation, 

Darker  every  hour. 

The  reader  will  recollect  that  Mr.  N.*s  friend 
at  St.  Christopher's  had  given  him  information 
for  forming  a  religious  acquaintance  in  Lon- 
don ;  in  consequence  of  which  he  became  in- 
timate with  several  persons  eminent  for  that 
character ;  and  profited  by  the  spiritual  advan-^ 
tages  which  a  great  city  affords,  with  respect  to 
means.  When  tj£  was  in  Kent,  his  advanta- 
tages  were  of  a  different  kind ;.  most  of  his 
time  he  passed  in  the  fields  and' woods  :  "  It 
has  been  my  custom,"  says  he,  "  for  many 
years,  to  perform  my  devotional  exercises  sub 
dip,  when  I  have  opportunity,  and  I  always 
find  these  scenes  have  some  tendency  both  to 
refresh  and  compose  my  spirits.  A  beautiful, 
diversified  prospect  gladdens  my  heart.  When 
I  am  withdrawn  from  the  noise  and  petty  works 
of  men,  I  consider  myself  aPn  the  great  tem- 
ple which  the  Lord  has  built  for  his  own  ho- 
nour." 

During  this  time  he  had  to  weather  two  tri- 
als, the  principal  of  which  was  Mrs.JN.'s  ill- 
ness ;  she  still  grew  worse,  and  he  had  daily 
more  reason  to  fear  that  hour  of  separation 
which  appeared  to  be  at  hand.  He  had  likewise 
to  provide  some  future  settlement ;  the  African 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON'.  93 

trade  was  overdone  that  year,  and  his  friends 
did  not  care  to  fit  out  another  ship  till  that 
which  had  been  his,  returned.  Though  a  pro- 
vision of  food  and  raiment  had  seldom  been 
with  him  a  cause  of  great  solicitude,  yet  he 
wras  some  time  in  suspense  on  this  account ; 
but,  in  August  following,  he  received  a  letter 
fthat  he  was  nominated  to  a  post  which  afforded 
him  a  competency,  both  unsought  and  unex- 
pected. 

When  he  had  gained  this  point,  his  distress 
respecting  Mrs.  N.  was  doubled ;  he  was  oblig- 
ed to  leave  her  in  the  greatest  extremity  of  pain 
and  illness ;  and  when  he  had  no  hope  that  he 
should  see  her  again  alive.  He  was,  however, 
enabled  to  resign  her  and  himself  to  the  divine 
disposal ;  and  soon  after  he  was  gone,  she  be- 
gan to  amend,  and  recovered  so  fast,  that  in 
about  two  months  he  had  the  pleasure  to  meet 
her  at  Stone,  on  £r  journey  to  Liverpool.. 

Jyrom  October  1755,  he  appears  to  have 
been  comfortably  settled  at  Liverpool,  and 
meQjfans  his  having  received,  since  the  j 
1757^ffl£eh  profit  from  his  acquaintance  in  the 
West  Riding  of  Yorkshire.  "  I  have  con- 
versed," says  he,  "  at  large  among  all  parties, 
without  joining  any  ;  and  in  my  attempts  to 
hit  the  golden  mean,  I  have  been  sometin 


94  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

drawn  too  near  the  different  extremes  ;  yet  the 
Lord  has  enabled  me  tcprofit  by  my  mistakes." 
Being  at  length  placed  in  a  settled  habitation, 
and  finding  his  business  would  afford  him  mueh 
leisure,  he  considered  in  what  manner  he  could 
improve  it.  Having  determined,  with  the  Apos- 
tle, to  know  nothing  but  Jesus  Christ,  and  him 
crucified,  he  devoted  his  life  to  the  prosecu- 
tion of  spiritual  knowledge,'  and  resolved  to 
^ursue  nothing  but  in  sufcfeervicrifee  to  this  de- 
sign. But  as  what  follows  will  appear  most 
natural,  and  must  be  better  expressed,  in  his 
own  words,  I  shall  transcribe  them  from  the 
conclusion  of  his  Narrative. 

"  This  resolution, "  says  Mr.  N.  "  divorced 
me  (as  I  have  already  hinted)  from  the  clas- 
sics and  mathematics.  My  first  attempt  was 
to  learn  so  much  Greek  as  would  enable  me 
to  understand  the  New  Testament  and  Septu- 
agint ;  and  when  I  had  ma^  some  progress 
this  way,  I  entered  upon  the  Hebrew  the  fol- 
lowing year  ;  and  two  years  afterwards,  hav- 
ing surmised  some  advantages  from  the  Syri- 
ac  version,  I  began  with  that  langua^^  You 
must  not  think  that  I  have  attained,  or  ever 
aimed  at  a  critical  skill  in  any  of  these ;  I  had 
no  business  with  them,  but  as  in  reference  to 
something  else,     I  never  read  one  classic  au- 


. 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON. 

thor  in  the  Greek  ;  I  thought  it  too  late  in  life 
to  take  such  a  round  in  this  language  as  I  had 
done  in  the  Latin.  I^only  wanted  the  signifi- 
cation of  scriptufcil  words  and  phrases,  and  for 
this,  I  thought  I  might  avail  myself  of  Scapu- 
la, the  Synopsis,  and  others,  who  had  sustain- 
ed the  drudgery  before  me.  In  the  Hebrew, 
I  can  read  the  historical  books  and  psalms  with 
tolerable  ease  ;  but  in  the  prophetical  and  dif 
ficult  parts,  I  am  frequently  obliged  to  have  re- 
course to  Lexicons,  &c.  However,  I  kn 
so  much  as  to  be  able,  with  such  helps  as  ai> 
at  hand,  to  judge  for  myself  the  meaning  of 
any  passage  I  have  occasion  to  consult. 

u  Together  with  these  studies,  I  have  kept 
up  a  course  of  reading  the  best  writers  in  divi- 
nity that  have  come  to  my  hand,  in  the  Latin 
and  English  tongues,  and  some  French  (for  1 
picked  up  the  French  at  times,  while  I  used 
the  sea).  But  within  these  two  or  three  }■ 
I  have  accustomed  myself  chiefly  to  writing, 
and  have  not  found  time  to  read  many  books 
besides  the  Scriptures. 

"  I  am  the  more  particular  in  this  account, 
as  my  case  has  been  something  singular  ;  for 
in  all  my  literary  attempts,  I  have  been  obliged 
to  strike  out  my  own  path  by  the  light  I 
could  acquire  from  books,  as  I  have  not  had 


96  •   MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

a  teacher  or  assistant  since  I  was  ten  years  of 
age. 

"  One*  word  concer^g  my  views  to  the 
ministry,  and  I  have  done.  I  have  told  you, 
•  that  this  was  'my  dear  mother's  hope  concern- 
ing me ;  but  her  death,  and  the  scenes  of  life 
in  which  I  afterwards  engaged,  seemed  to  cut 
off  the  probability.  The  first  desires  of  this 
sort  in  my  own  mind,  arose  many  years  ago, 
from  reflection  on  Gal.  i.  23,  24.  I  could  but 
\^sh  for  such  a  public  opportunity  to  testify 
the  riches  of  divine  grace.  I  thought  I  was, 
above  most  living,  a  fit  person  to  proclaim  that 
faithful  saying,  that  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the 
world  to  save  the  chief  of  sinners  ;  and  as  my 
life  had  been-  full  of  remarkable  turnsy  and  I 
seemed  selected  to  shew  what  the  Lord  could 
do,  I  was  in  some  hopes  that  perhaps  sooner 
or  later,  he  might  call  me  into  his  service. 

"  I  believe  it  was  a  distant  hope  of  this  that 
•determined  me  to  study  the  original  Scrip- 
tures ;  but  it  remained  an  imperfect  desire  in 
my  own  brQjst,  till  it  was  recommended  to  me 
by  some  Christian  friends.  I  started  at  the 
thought  when  first  seriously  proposed  to  me  ; 
but  afterwards,  set  apart  some  weeks  to  consi- 
der the  case,  to  consult  my  friends,  and  to  en- 
treat the  Lord's  direction.     The  judgment  of 


i 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  97 

my  friends,  and  many  things  that  occurred, 
tended  to  engage  me.  My  first  thought  was 
to  join  the  dissenters,  from  a  presumption  that 
I  could  not  honestly  make  the  required  sub- 
scriptions ;  but  Mr.  C ,  in  a  conversation 

upon  these  points,  moderated  my  scruples  ; 
and  preferring  the  established  church  in  some 
respects,  I  accepted  a  title  from  him,  some 
months  afterwards ;  and  solicited  ordination 
from  the  laxe  Archbishop  of  York  :  I  need  not 
tell  you  I  met  a  refusal,  nor  what  steps  I  took 
afterwards,  to  succeed  elsewhere.  At  pre&nt 
I  desist  from  any  applications.  My  desire  to 
serve  the  Lord  is  not  weakened  ;  but  I  am  not 
so  hasty  to  push  myself  forward  as  I  was  for- 
merly. It  is  sufficient  that  he  knows  how  to 
dispose  of  me,  and  that  he  both  can  and  will  do 
what  is  best.  To  him  I  commend  myself:  I 
trust  that  his  will  and  my  true  interest  are  in- 
separable. To  his  name  be  glory  forever,  an3 
with  this  I  conclude  my  story." 

A  variety  of  remarks  occured  to  me  while 
abridging  the  Narrative,  but  I  refrained  from 
putting  them  down,  lest  by  iffterrupting  its 
course,  and  breaking  the  thread  of  the  histo- 
ry, I  should  rather  disgust  than  profit  the  rea- 
der. I  have  heard  Mr.  N.  relate  a  few  addi~ 
tional  particulars,  but  they  were  of  too  little 

I 


98  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

interest  to  be  inserted  here  ;  they  went,  how- 
ever, like  natural  incidents,  tQ  a  farther  authen- 
tication of  the  above  account,   had  it  needed 
any  other  confirmation  than  the  solemn  decla- 
ration of  the  pious   relator.     Romantic  rela- 
tions, indeed,  of  unprincipled  travellers,  which 
appear  to  have  no  better  basis  than  a  disposi- 
tion to  amuse  credulity,  to  exhibit  vanity,  or 
to  acquire  gain,  may  naturally  raise  suspicion, 
and  produce  but  a  momentary  effect  at  most 
on  the  mind  of  the  reader  :  but  facts,  like  the 
present,  manifest  such  a  display  of  the  Power, 
Providence,   and  Grace   of  God ;  and   at  the 
same  time  such  a  deep  and  humbling  view  of 
human  depravity,  when  moved,  and  brought 
forth  by  circumstances,   as   inexperience  can 
scarcely  credit,   but  which  must  interest  the 
eye  of  pious  contemplation,   and  open  a  new 
world  of  wonders. 

I  must  now  attempt  to  conduct  the  reader, 
without  the  help  of  Mr.  N.'s  Narrative,  finish- 
ed Feb.  2,  1763  ;  to  which,  as  I  have  already 
observed,  he  referred  me  for  the  former  and 
most  singular  part  of  his  life.  When  I  left  the 
above  account  with  him  for  revision,  he  ex- 
pressed full  satisfaction  as  to  all  the  facts  rela 
ted  ;  but  said,  he  thought  I  had  been  too  mi 
nute  even  in  the  abridgment,  since  the  Narra- 


- 


REV.     JOHN     NEWTON. 

tive  itself  had  been  long  before  the  public.  1 
remarked,  in  reply,  that  the  Narrative  contain- 
ed a  great  variety  of  facts — that  these  Me- 
moirs might  fall  into  the  hands  of  persons  who 
had  not  seen  the  Narrative — but  that,  without 
some  abridgment  of  it,  no  clear  view  could  be 
formed  of  the  peculiarity  of  his  whole  dispen- 
sation and  character — and,  therefore,  that  such 
an  abridgment  appeared  to  be  absolutely  neces- 
sary, and  that  he  had  recommended  it  at  my 
first  undertaking  the  work.  With  these  rea- 
sons he  was  well  satisfied.  I  now  proceed  to 
the  remaining,  though  less  remarkable  part  of 
his  life. 

Mr.  Manesty,  who  had  long  been  a  faithful 
and  generous  friend  of  Mr.  N.,  having  procured 
him  the  place  of  tide-surveyor  in  the  port  of 
Liverpool,  Mr.  N.  gives  the  following  account 
of  it. — "  I  entered  upon  business  yesterday. 
I  find  my  duty  is  to  attend  the  tides  one  week,, 
and  visit  the  ships  that  arrive,  and  such  as  are 
in  the  river  ;  and  the  other  week  to  inspect  the 
vessels  in  the  docks,  and  thus  alternately  the 
year  round.  The  latter  is  little  more  than  a 
sinecure,  but  the  former  requires  pretty  con- 
stant attendance,  both  by  day  and  night.  I 
have  a  good  office,  with  fire  and  candle,  and 
fifty  or  sixty  people  under  my  direction  :    with 


100  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

a  handsome  six-oared  boat  and  a  coxswain, 
to  row  me  about  in  form*." 

We  cannot  wonder  that  Mr.  N.  latterly  re- 
tained a  strong  ynpression  of  a  particular  pro- 
vidence, superintending  and  conducting  the 
steps  of  man  ;  since  he  was  so  often  reminded 
of  it  in  his  own  history  %  \  The  following 
occurrence  is  one  of  many  instances.  Mr. 
N.  after  his  reformation,  was  remarkable  for 
his  punctuality  :  I  remember  his  often  sitting 
with  his  watch  in  his  hand,  lest  he  should  fail 
in  keeping  his  next  engagement.  This  exact- 
ness with  respect  to  time,  it  seems,  was  his 
habit  while  occupying  his  post  at  Liverpool. 
One  day,  however,  some  business  had  so  de- 
tained him,  that  he  came  to  his  boat  much 
later  than  usual,  to  the  surprise  of  those  who 
had  observed  his  former  punctuality.  He 
went  out  in  the  boat  as  heretofore  to  inspect 
a  ship  ;  but  the  ship  blew  up  just  before  he 
reached  her  ;  it  appears,  that  if  he  had  left 
the  shore  a  few  minutes  sooner,  he  must  have 
perished  with, the  rest  on  board. 

This  anecdote  I  had  from  a  clergyman,  up- 
on whose  word  I  can  depend  ;  who  had  been 

*  Letters  to  a  Wife,  vol.  ii.  p.  r. 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  101 

in  intimate  habits  with  Mr.  N.  and  who  had 
it  *from  Mr.  N.  himself:  the  reason  of  its  not 
appealing  in  his  Letters  from  Liverpool  to 
Mrs.  N.  I  can  only  suppose  to  be,  his  fear- 
ing to  alarm  her  with  respect  to  the  dangers  of 
his  station.  But  another  providential  occur- 
rence, which  he  mentions  in  those  letters  I 
shall  transcribe. 

"  When  I  think  of  my  settlement  here,  and 
the  manner  of  it,  I  see  the  appointment  of  Pro- 
vidence so  good  and  gracious,  and  such  a  plain 
answer  to  my  poor  prayers,  that  I  cannot  but 
wonder  and  adore.  I  think  I  have  not  yet 
told  you,  that  my  immediate  predecessor  in 
office,  Mr.  C — ,  had  not  the  least  intention  of 
resigning  his  place  on  the  occasion  of  his  fa- 
ther's death ;  though  such  a  report  was  spread 
about  the  town,  without  hi:  knowledge,  or  ra- 
ther in  defiance  of  all  he  could  say  to  contra- 
dict it.  Yet  to  this  false  report  I  owe  my  situ- 
ation. For  it  put  Mr.  M.  upon  an  application 
to  Mr.  S — ,  the  member  for  the  town;  and, 
the  very  day  he  received  the  promise  in  my 
favour,  Mr.  C —  was  found  dead  in  his  bed. 
though  he  had  been  in  company,  and  in  per- 
fect health,  the  night  before.  If  I  mistake 
not,  the  same  messenger,  who  brought  the  pro- 

e1  carried  back  the  news  of  the  vacancy  to 
12 


102  MEMOIRS    OF   THE 

Mr.  S — ,  at  Chester.  About  an  hour  after, 
the  mayor  applied  for  a  nephew  of  his ;  but, 
though  it  was  only  an  hour  or  two,  he  was  too 
late.  Mr.  S —  had  already  written,  and  sent  off 
the  letter,  and  I  was  appointed  accordingly. 
These  circumstances  appear  to  me  extraordi- 
nary, though  of  a  piece  with  many  other  pails 
of  my  singular  history.  And  the  more  so,  as 
by  another  mistake,  I  missed  the  land  waiter's 
place,  which  was  my  first  object,  and  which,  I 
now  see  would  not  have  suited  us  nearly  so 
well.  I  thank  God,  I  can  now  look  through 
instruments,  and  second  causes,  and  see  his 
wisdom  and  goodness  immediately  concerned, 
in  fixing  my  lot." 

Mr.  N.  having  expressed,  near  the  end  of 
his  Narrative,  jfhe  motives  which  indiiped  him 
to  aim  at  a  regular  appointment  to  the  ministry 
in  the  church  of  England,  and  of  the  disap- 
pointment he  met  with  in  his  first  making  the 
attempt,  the  reader  is  farther  informed  that,  on 
Dec.    16,  1758,   Mr.  N.  received  a  title  to  a 

curacy  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  C ,  and  applied 

ta  the  archbishop  of  York,  Dr.  Gilbert  for  or- 
dination. The  bishop  of  Chester  having  coun- 
tersigned his  testimonials,  directed  him  to  Dr. 
Newton,  the  archbishop's  chaplain.  He  was 
referred  to  the   secretary,   and   received  the 


REV.   JtHIN    NEWTON.  103 

softest  refusal  imaginable.  The  secretary  in- 
formed him,  that  he  had  "  represented  the 
matter  to  the  archbishop,  but  his  grace  was 
inflexible  in  supporting  the  rules  and  canons 
of  the  church,"  &c. 

Travelling  to  Loughborough,  Mr.  N.  stop- 
ped at  Welwyn,  and  sending  a  note  to  the  ce- 
lebrated Dr.  Young,  he  received  for  answer, 
that  the  doctor  would  be  glad  to  see  him.  He 
found  the  doctor's  conversation  agreeable,  and 
to  answer  his  expectation  respecting  the  author 
of  the  Night  Thoughts.  The  doctor  likewise 
seemed  pleased  with  Mr.  N. — he  approved 
Mr.  N.'s  design  of  entering  the  ministry,  and 
said  many  encouraging- things  upon  the  sub- 
ject ;  and  when  he  dismissed  Mr.  N.  desired 
him  never  to  pass  near  Welwyn  without  call- 
ing upon  him. 

Mr.  'N.  it  seems,  had  made  some  small  at- 
tempts at  Liverpool,  in  a  way  of  preaching  or 
expounding.  Many  wished  him  to  engage 
more  at  large  in  those  ministerial  employments, 
to  which  his  own  mind  was  inclined  ;  and  he 
thus  expresses  his  motives  in  a  letter  to  Mrs. 
N.  in  answer  to  the  objections  she  had  formed. 
"  The  late  death  of  Mr.  Jones,  of  St.  Saviour's, 
has  pressed  this  concern  more  closely  upon  my 
mind.     I  fear  it  must  be  wrong,  after  Raving 


104  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

so  solemnly  devoted  myself  to  the  Lord  for  his 
sendee,  to  wear  away  my  time,  and  bury  my 
talents  in  silence  (because  I  have  been  refused 
orders  in  the  church,)  after  all  the  great  things 
He  has  done  for  me*." 

In  a  note  annexed,  he  observes  that  "  the 
influence  of  his  judicious  and  affectionate  coun- 
sellor moderated  the  zeal  which  dictated  this 
letter,  written  in  the  year  1762 — tha^  had  it 
BOt  been  for  her,  he  should  probably  have  been 
precluded  from  those  important  scenes  of  ser- 
vice, to  which  he  was  afterwards  appointed:'5 
but  he  adds,  "  The  exercises  of  my  mind  upon 
this  point,  I  believe  have  not  been  peculiar  to 
myself.  I  have  known  several  persons,  sensi- 
ble, pious,  of  competent  abilities,  and  cordially 
attached  to  the  established  church  ;  who,  be- 
ing wearied  out  with  repeated  refusals  of  ordi- 
nation, and,  perhaps  not  having  the  advantage 
of  such  an  adviser  as  I  had,  have  at  length 
struck  into  the  itinerant  path,  or  settled  among 
the  dissenters.  Some  of  these,  yet  living,  are 
men  of  respectable  characters,  and  useful  in 
their  ministry ;  but  their  influence,  which 
would  once  have  been  serviceable  to  the  true 
interests  of  the  church  of  England,  now  rather 
operates  against  it." 

*  Letters  to  a  Wife,  vol.  ii.  p.  79, 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  105 

In  the  year  1764  Mr.  N.  had  the  curacy  of 
Olney  proposed  to  him,  and  was  recommend- 
ed by  lord  D ,  to  Dr.  Green,  bishob  of 

Lincoln  ;  of  whose  candour  and  tenderness  he 
speaks  with  much  respect.  The  bishop  had 
admitted  him  as  a  candidate  for  orders.  "  The 
examination,"  says  he,  "  lasted  about  an  hour, 
chiefly  upon  the  principal  heads  of  divinity. 
As  I  was  resolved  not  to  be  charged  hereafter 
with  dissimulation,  I  was  constrained  to  differ 
from  his  lordship  in  some  points/,  but  he  was 
not  offended ;  he  declared  himself  satisfied, 
and  has  promised  to  ordain  me,  either  next 
Sunday,  in  town,  or  the  Sunday  following,  at 
Buckden. — Let  us  praise  the  Lord*  !" 

Mr.  N.  was  ordained  deacon  at  Buckden, 
April  29,  1764,  and  priest  in  June  the  follow- 
ing year.  In  the  parish  of  Oiney,  he  found 
many  who  not  only  had  evangelical  views  of 
the  truth,  but  had  also  long  walked  in  the  light 
and  experience  of  it.     The  vicarage   was  in 

the  gift  of  the  Earl  of  D ,  the  nobleman 

to  whom  Mr.  N.  addressed  the  first  twenty- 
six  letters  in  his  Cardiphonia.  The  Earl  was 
a  man  of  real  piety,  and  most  amiable  dispo- 
sition; he  had  formerly  appointed  the  Rev, 

*  Letters,  &c.  p.  89, 


106  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

Moses  Brown  vicar.  Mr.  Brown  was  an  evan- 
gelical minister,  and  a  good  man ;  of  course 
he  had  afforded  wholesome  instruction  to  the 
parishioners  of  Olney,  and  had  been  the  in- 
strument of  a  sound  conversion  in  many  of 
them.  He  was  the  author  of  a  poetical  piece, 
entitled  Sunday  Thoughts,  a  translation  of 
ProfeB^pp^  Zimmermann's  Excellency  of  the 
Knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ,  &c. 

But  Mr.  Brown  had  a  numerous  family, 
and  met  with  considerable  trials  in  it ;  he  too 
much  resembled  Eli  in  his  indulgence  of  his 
children.  He  was  also  under  the  pressure  of 
pecuniary  difficulties,  and  had  therefore  ac- 
cepted the  chaplaincy  of  Morden  College, 
Blackheath,  while  vicar  of  Olney.  Mr.  N.  in 
these  circumstances,  undertook  the  curacy  of 
Olney,  in  which  he  continued  near  sixteen 
years,  previous  to  his  removal  to  St.  Mary 
Woolnoth,  to  which  he  was  afterwards  pre- 
sented, by  the  late  John  Thornton,  Esq. 

As  Mr.  N.  was  under4  the  greatest  obliga- 
tions to  Mr.  Thornton's  friendship  while  at 
Olney,  and  had  been  enabled  to  extend  his 
own  usefulness  by  the  bounty  of  that  extra- 
ordinary  man,  it  may  not  be  foreign  to  our 
subject,  to  give  some  general  outline  of  Mr. 
Thornton's  character  in  this  place. 


R£V.  JOHN    NEWTON.  107 

It  is  said  of  Solomon,  that  the  Lord  gave 
him  largeness  of  heart,  even  as  the  sand  on 
the  sea  shore ;  such  a  peculiar  disposition  for 
whatever  was  good  or  benevolent  was  also  be- 
stowed on  Mr.  Thornton.  He  differed  as 
much  from  rich  men  of  ordinary  bounty,  as 
they  do  from  others  that  are  parsimonious. 
Nor  was  this  bounty  the  result  of  occasional 
impulse,  like  a  summer  shower,  violent  and 
short ;  on  the  contrary,  it  proceeded  like  a  ri- 
ver, pouring  its  waters  through  various  coun- 
tries, copious  and  inexhaustible.  Nor  could 
those  obstructions  of  imposture  and  ingrati- 
tude, which  have  often  been  advanced  as  the 
cause  of  damming  up  other  streams,  prevent 
vor  retard  the  course  of  this.  The  generosity 
of  Mr.  Thornton,  indeed,  frequently  met  with 
such  hinderances,  and  led  him  to  increasing 
discrimination,  but  the  stream  of  his  bounty 
never  ceased  to  hold  its  course.  Deep,  silent, 
and  overwhelming,  it  still  rolled  on,  nor  ended 
even  with  his  life. 

But  the  fountain  from  whence  this  benifi- 
cence  flowred,  and  by  wThich  its  permanency 
and  direction  were  maintained,  must  not  be 
concealed.  Mr.  Thornton  was  a  Christian. 
Let  no  one,  however,  so  mistake  me  here,  as 
to  suppose  that  I  mean  nothing  more  by  the 


108  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

term  Christian,  than  the  state  of  one  who,  con- 
vinced of  the  truth  of  the  revelation,  gives  as- 
sent to  its  doctrines — regularly  attends  its  or- 
dinances— and  maintains  an  external,  moral, 
and  religious  deportment.  Such  a  one  may 
have  a  name  to  live  while  he  is  dead  ;  he  may 
have  a  form  of  godliness  without  the  power  of 
it — he  may  even  be  found  denying  and  ridi- 
culing that  power — till  at  length,  he  can  only 
be  convinced  of  his  error  at  an  infallible  tribu- 
nal ;  wThere  a  widow,  that  gives  but  a  mite,  or 
a  publican,  that  smites  on  his  breast,  shall  be 
preferred  before  him.  # 

Mr.  Thornton  was  a  Christian  indeed,  that 
is,  he  was  alive  to  God  by  a  spiritual  regene- 
ration. With  this  God  he  was  daily  and  ear- 
nestly transacting  that  infinitely  momentous  af- 
fair, the  salvation  of  his  own  soul ;  and  next 
to  that,  the  salvation  of  the  souls  of  others. 
Temperate  in  all  things,  though  mean  in  no- 
thing, he  made  provision  for  doing  good  with 
his  opulence  ;  and  seemed  to  be  most  in  his 
element  when  appropriating  a  considerable 
part  of  his  large  income  to  the  necessities  of 
others. 

But  Mr.  Thornton  'possessed  that  discrimi- 
nation in  his  attempts  to  serve  his  fellow  crea- 
tures,   which    distinguishes    an    enlightened 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  106 

mind  :  he  habitually  contemplated  man,  as  one 
who  has  not  only  a  body,  subject  to  want,  af* 
fliction,  and  death,  but  also  a  spirit,  which  is 
immortal,  and  must  be  happy  or  miserable 
for  ever.  He,  therefore,  felt  that  the  noblest 
exertions  of  charity  are  those  which  are  di- 
rected  to  the  relief  of  the  noblest  part  of  our 
species.  Accordingly  he  left  no  mode  of  ex- 
ertion untried  to  relieve  man  under  his  natu- 
ral ignorance  and  depravity.  To  this  end,  he 
purchased  advousons  and  presentations,  with 
a  view  to  place  in  parishes  the  most  enlight* 
ened,  active,  and  useful  ministers.  He  em- 
ployed the  extensive  commerce,  in  which  he 
was  engaged,  as  a  powerful  instrument  for  con- 
veying immense  quantities  of  bibles,  prayer 
books,  and  the  most  useful  publications,  to 
every  place  visited  by  our  trade.  He  printed., 
at  his  own  sole  expense,  large  editions  of  the 
latter  for  that  purpose ;  and  it  ma)'  safely  be 
affirmed  ,that  there  is  scarcely  a  part  of  the 
known  world,  where  such  books  could  be  in- 
troduced, which  did  not  feel  the  salutary  in* 
fluence  of  this  single  individual. 

Nor  was  Mr.  Thornton  limited  in  his  views 

of  promoting  the  interests  of  real  religion,  with 

what  sect  soever  it  was  connected.     He  stood 

ready  to  assist  a  beneficial  design  in  every  par 

K 


110  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

ty,  but  would  be  the  creature  of  none.  Ge- 
neral good  was  his  object,  and  wherever  or 
however  it  made  its  way,  his  maxim  seemed 
constantly  to  be,  valeat  quantum  valere  potest. 

But  the  nature  and  extent  of  his  liberality 
will  be  greatly  misconceived,  if  any  one  should 
suppose  it  confined  to  moral  and  religious  ob- 
jects, though  the  grandest  and  most  compre- 
hensive exertions  of  it.  Mr.  Thornton  was 
a  philanthropist  on  the  largest  scale — the 
friend  of  man  under  all  his  wants.  His  man- 
ner of  relieving  his  fellow- men  was  princely  ; 
instances  might  be  mentioned  of  it,  were  it 
proper  to  particularize,  which  would  surprise 
those  who  did  not  know  Mr.  Thornton.  They 
were  so  much  out  of  ordinary  course  and  ex- 
pectation, that  I  know  some,  who  felt  it  their 
duty  to  inquire  of  him,  whether  the  sum  they 
had  received  was  sent  by  his  intention  or  by 
mistake  ? — To  this  may  be  added,  that  the 
manner  of  presenting  his  gifts  was  as  deli- 
cate and  concealed,  as  the  measure  was  large. 

Beside  this  constant  course  of  private  dona- 
tions, there  was  scarcely  a  public  charity,  or 
occasion  of  relief  to  the  ignorant  or  necessi- 
tous, which  did  not  meet  with  his  distinguish- 
ed support.  His  only  question  was,  "  May 
the   miseries  of  man  in   any  measure  be  re- 


fl  E  V.    J  0  H  N  0  X  .  Ill 

molded  or  alle^  iated  ?'?  Nor  was  he  merely  i 
languished  by  stretching  out  a  liberal  hand  : 
his  benevolent  heart  w&s  so  mtcnt  on  doi 
good*  that  he  was  ev<  r  inventing  and  promo- 
ling  plans  for  its  di  at  home  or  abro; 
lie  that  wisely  desires  any  end,  will  as  wise- 
ly regard  the  means  ;  in  this  Mr.  Thornton 
was  perfectly  consistent.  In  order  to  execute 
his  beneficent  designs,  he  observed  frugality 
and  exactness  in  his  personal  expenses.  By 
such  prospective  methods,  he  was  able  to  ex- 
tend the  influence  of  his  fortune  far  beyond 
those  who,  in  still  mo;  e  elevated  stations,  are 
slaves  to  expensive  habits.  Such  men  mean- 
ly pace  in  trammels  of  the  tyrant  custom,  till 
it  leaves  them  scarcely  enough  to  preserve 
'their  conscience,  or  even  their  credit,  much 
less  to  employ  their  talents  in  Mr.  Thornton's 
nobler  pursuits.  He,  however,  could  afford  to 
be  generous  ;  and  while  he  was  generous,  did 
not  forget  his  duty  in  being  just.  He  made 
ample  provision  for  his  children,  and  though, 
while  they  are  living,  it  would  be  indelicate 
to  say  more,  I  am  sure  of  speaking  truth, 
when  I  say, — they  are  so  for  from  thinking 
themselves  impoverished  by  the  bounty  of 
their  father,  that  they  contemplate  with  the 
highest  satisfaction  the  fruit  of  those  benefits 

4- 


112  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

to  society,  which  he  planted — which  it  may 
be  trusted,  will  extend  with  time  itself- — and 
which  after  his  example,  they  still  labour  to 
extend. 

But  with  all  the  piety  and  liberality  of  this  ho- 
noured character,  no  man  had  deeper  views  of 
his  own  unworthiness  before  his  God — to  the 
Redeemer's  work  alone  he  looked  for  accept- ' 
ance  of  his  person  and  services  :  he  felt  that 
all  he  did,  or  could  do,  was  infinitely  short  of 
that  which  had  been  done  for  him,  and  of  the 
obligations  that  were  thereby  laid  upon  him. 
It  was  this  abaseclness  of  heart  towards  God, 
combined  with  the  most  singular  largeness  of 
heart  towards  his  fellow-creatures,  which  dis- 
tinguished John  Thornton  among  men. 

To  this  common  patron  of  every  useful  and 
pious  endeavour,  Mr.  N.  sent  the  Narrative 
from  which  the  former  part  of  these  Memoirs 
is  extracted.  Mr.  Thornton  replied  in  his 
usual  manner,  that  is,  by  accompanying  his 
letter  with  a  valuable  bank-note ;  and  some 
months  after,  he  paid  Mr.  N.  a  visit  at  Olney. 
A  closer  connection  being  now  formed  be- 
tween friends,  who  employed  their  distinct  ta- 
lents in  promoting  the  same  benevolent  cause  ; 
Mr.  Thornton  left  a  sum  of  money  with  Mr. 
N.  to  be  appropriated  to  the  defraying  his  ne- 


RBV.     J 

Miry  exp<  ind  relic  \  ing  the  ])oor.   M  Be 

hospitable,"  said  Mr.  Thornton',  "  and  keep 
an  open  house  for  sueh  as  are  worthy  of  enter- 
tainment— help  the  poor  and  needy  ;  I  will 
statedly  allow  you  £  200  a  year,    and  readily 

d  whatever  you  have  occasion  to  draw  for 
rftare." — Mr.  N.  told  me,  that  he  thought  he 
had   received  of  Mr.    Thornton    upwards   of 

3000  in  this  way,  during  the  time  he  re- 
sided  at  Olney. 

The  case  of  most  ministers  is  peculiar  in 
this  respect ;  some  among  them  may  be  look- 
ed up  to,  on  account  of  their  publicity  and  ta- 
lents ;  they  may  have  made  great  sacrifices 
of  their  personal  interest,  in  order  to  enter  on 
their  ministry,  and  may  be  possessed  of  the 
strongest  benevolence ;  but  from  the  narrow- 
ness of  their  pecuniary  circumstances,  and 
from  the  largeness  of  their  families,  they  often 
perceive,  that  an  ordinary  tradesman  in  their 
parishes,  can  subscribe  to  a  charitable  or  po- 
pular institution  much  more  liberally  than 
themselves.  This  would  have  been  Mr.  N.'s 
ease,  but  for  the  above-mentioned  singular 
patronage. 

A  minister,  however,  should  not  be  so  for- 
getful of  his  dispensation,  as  to  repine  at  his 
want  of  power  in  this  respect.  He  might  as 
K  2 


114  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

justly  estimate  his  deficiency  by  the  strength 
of  the  lion,  or  the  flight  of  the  eagle.  The 
power  communicated  to  him  is  of  another 
kind ;  and  power  of  every  kind  belongs  to  God, 
who  gives  gifts  to  every  man  severally  as  he 
will.  The  two  mites  of  the  widow  were  all 
the  power  of  that  kind  which  was  communi- 
cated to  her,  and  her  bestowment  of  her  two 
mites  was  better  accepted  than  the  large  offer- 
ings of  the  rich  man.  The  powers,  therefore, 
of  Mr.  Thornton,  and  of  Mr.  N.  though  of  a 
different  order,  were  both  consecrated  to  God  ; 
and  each  might  have  said,  "  Of  thine  own 
have  we  given  thee." 

Providence  seems  to  have  appointed  Mr. 
N.'s  residence  at  Olney,  among  other  reasons, 
for  the  relief  of  the  depressed  mind  of  the  Po- 
et Co  wper.  There  has  gone  forth  an  un- 
founded report,  that  the  deplorable  melancho- 
ly of  Cowper,  was,  in  part,  derived  from  his 
residence  and  connections  in  that  place.  The 
fact,  however,  is  the  reverse  of  this ;  and  as 
it  may*  be  of  importance  to  the  interests  of 
true  religion  to  prevent  such  a  misrepresenta- 
tion from  taking  root,  I  will  present  the  real 
state  of  the  case,  as  I  have  found  it  attested 
by  the  most  respectable  living  witnesses ;  and 
more  especially,  as  confirmed  by  a  MS.  writ- 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTON.  115 

ten  by  the  poet  himself,  at  the  calmest  period 
of  his  life  ;   with  the  perusal   of  which  I  v 
favoured  by  Mr.  N. 

It  most  evidently  appears,  that  symptoms  of 
Mr.  Cowper's  morbid  state  began  to  discover 
themselves  in  his  earliest  youth.     He  seems 
to  have  been  at  all  times  disordered,  in  a  great- 
er or  less  degree.     He  was  sent  to  Westmin- 
ster school  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  and  long 
endured  the  tyranny  of  an  elder  boy,  of  which 
he  gives  a  shocking  account  in  the  paper  above 
mentioned;  and  which  "  produced,"   as  one 
of  his  biographers  observes,  who  had  long  in- 
timacy with  him,    "  an  indelible  effect  upon 
his  mind  through  life." — A  person  so  natural- 
ly  bashful  and  depressed  as  Cowper,  must 
needs  find  the  profession  of  a  barrister  a  far- 
ther occasion  of  anxiety  :  the  post  obtained  for 
him  by  his  friends  in  the  House  of  Lords  over- 
whelmed him  ;    and  the  remonstrances  which 
those  friends   made  against  his  relinquishing 
so  honourable  and  lucrative  an  appointment, 
(but  which  soon  after  actually  took  place,) 
greatly  increased  the  anguish  of  a  mind  alrea- 
dy incapacitated  for  business.     To   all   this 
were  added  events,  which  of  themselves  have 
been  found  sufficient  to  overset  the  minds  of 
the  strongest ;  namely,  the  decease  of  his  par- 


116  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

titular  friend  and  intimate  Sir  William  Riis- 
sel ;  and  his  meeting  with  a  disappointment  in 
obtaining  a  lady,  upon  whom  his  affections 
were  placed. 

But  the  state  of  a  person,  torn  and  depres- 
sed (not  by  his  religious  connections,  but)  by 
adverse  circumstances,  and  these  meeting  a 
naturally  morbid  sensibility,  long  before  he 
knew  Oiney,  or  had  formed  any  connection 
with  its  inhabitants,  will  best  appear  from  some 
verses  which  he  sent  at  this  time  to  one  of  his 
female  relations,  and  for  the  communication 
of  which,  we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Hayley  : 

"  Doom'cl  as  I  am,  in  solitude  to  waste 
The  present  moments,  and  regret  the  past ; 
-  Deprived  of  every  joy  I  valued  most, 
My  friend  torn  from  me,  and  my  mistress  lost ; 
Call  not  this  gloom  I  wear,  this  anxious  mein, 
The  dull  effect  of*humour  or  of  spleen  i 
Still,  still  I  mourn  with  each  returning  day, 
Him — snatch'd  by  fate  in  early  youth,  away  ; 
And  her — through  tedious  years  of  doubt  and  pain, 
Fix'd  in  her  choice,  and  faithful — but  in  vain. 
See  me — ere  yet  my  destin'd  course  half  done, 
Cast  forth  a  wand'rer  on  a  wild  unknown  ! 
See  me,'  neglected  on  the  world's  rude  coast,     - 
Each  dear  companion  of  my  voyage  lost ! 
Nor  ask,  why  clouds  of  sorrow  shade  my  brow. 
And  ready  tears  wait  only  leave  to  now  ; 
Why  all  that  soothes  a  heart,  from  anguish  free, 
Ail  that  delights  the  happy — palls  with ,me  ?" 


REV.  JOHN    N  EM    ION.  117 

That  any  man,  under  such  pressures,  should 
at  first  turn  his  mind  to  those  resources  which 
religion  alone  can  afford,  is  both  natural  and 
rational.  But  Mr.  Cbwper  was  like  a  person 
looking  from  a  high  tower,  who  perceives  only 
the  danger  of  falling,  but  neither  the  security 
nor  prospect  it  presents  ;  and  therefore  it  is  no 
wonder,  with  so  melancholy,  morbid,  and  sus- 
ceptible a  mind,  that  his  unhappiness  should 
be  increased. — -And  yet  this  very  mind  of 
Cowper,  when  put  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Cot- 
ton, of  St.  Albans  (a  physician  as  capable  of 
administering  to  the  spiritual,  as  to  the  natural 
maladies  of  his  patients)  received  the  first  con- 
solation it  ever  tasted,  and  that  from  evangeli- 
cal truths.  It  was  under  the  care  of  this  phy- 
sician, that  Mr.  C.  first  obtained  a  clear  view  of 
those  sublime  and  animating  truths,  which  so 
distinguished  and  exalted  his  future  strains  as 
a  poet.  Here  also  he  received  that  settled 
tranquillity  and  peace  which  he  enjoyed  for 
several  years  afterwards.  So  far,  therefore,  was 
his  constitutional  malady  from  being  produced 
or  increased  by  his  evangelical  connections, 
either  at  St.  Albans  or  at  Olney,  that  he  seems 
never  to  have  had  any  settled  peace  but  from 
the  truths  he  learned  in  these  societies.  It  ap- 
pears that  among  them  alone  he  found  the  only 


1.18  MEMOIRS     OF     THE 

sunshine  he  ever  enjoyed,  through  the  cloudy 
day  of  his  afflicted  life. 

It  appears  also  that,  while  at  Dr.  Cotton's, 
Mr.  Cowper's  distress  was,  for  a  long  time, 
entirely  removed,  by  marking  that  passage  in 
Rom.  iii.  25.  u  Him  hajth  God  set  forth  to  be 
a  propitiation,  through  faith  in  his  blood,  to 
declare  his  righteousness  for  the  remission  of 
sins  that  are  past."  In  this  scripture  he  saw 
the  remedy,  which  God  provides  for  the  relief 
of  a  guilty  conscience,  with  such  clearness, 
that,  for  several  years  after,  his  heart  was  filled 
with  love,  and  his  life  occupied  with  prayer, 
praise,  and  doing  good  to  his  needy  fellow-crea- 
tures. 

Mr.  N.  told  me,  that  from  Mr.  Cowper's 
first  coming  to  Olney,  it  wras  observed  he  had 
studied  his  Bible  with  such  advantage,  and 
was  so  well  acquainted  with  its  design,  that 
not  only  his  troubles  were  removed,  but  that, 
to  the  end*  of  his  life,  he  never  had  clearer  views 
of  the  peculiar  doctrines. of  the  Gospel,  than 
when  he  first  became  an  attendant  upon  them — 
that  (short  intervals  excepted)  Mr.  Cowper  en- 
joyed a  course  of  peace  for  several  successive 
years — that,  during  this  period,  the  insepara- 
ble attendants  of  a  lively  faith  appeared,  by  Mr, 
Cowper's  exerting  himself  to  the  utmost  of  his 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  119 

power  in  every  benevolent  service  he  could 
render  to  his  poor  neighbours — and  that  Mr. 
N.  used  to  consider  him  as  a  sort  of  curate, 
from  his  constant  attendance  upon  the  sick  and 
afflicted,  in  Chat  large  and  necessitous  parish. 

But  the  malady,  which  seemed  to  be  subdu- 
ed by  the  strong  consolations  of  the  Gospel, 
was  still  latent ;  and  only  required  some  occa- 
sion of  irritation  to  break  out  again,  and  over- 
whelm the  patient.  Any  object  of  constant 
attention  that  shall  occupy  a  mind  previous!} 
disorded,  whether  fear,  or  love,  or  science,  or 
,  religion,  will  not  be  so  much  the  cause  of  the 
disease,  as  the  accidental  occasion  of  exciting 
it.  Cowper's  letters  will  shew  us  howr  much 
his  mind  was  occupied  at  one  time  by  the 
truths  of  the  Bible,  and  at  another  time  by  the 
fictions  of  Homer;  but  his  melancholy  was 
originally  a  constitutional  disease — a  physical 
disorder,  which,  indeed,  could  be  affected 
either  by  the  Bible  or  by  Homer,  but  was  ut- 
terly distinct  in  its  nature  from  the  mere  matter 
of  either.  And  here,  I  canngt  but  mark  this 
necessary  distinction  ;  having  often  been  wit- 
ness to  cases  where  religion  has  been  assigned 
as  the  proper  cause  of  insanity,  when  it  lias 
been  onlv  an  accidental  occasion,  in   the   i 


120  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

of  one  already  affected*.  Thus  Cowper's  ma- 
malady,  like  a  strong  current,  breaking  down 
the  banks  which  had  hitherto  sustained  the 

*  I  have  been  an  eye  witness  of  several  instances  of 
this  kind  of  misrepresentation,  but  will  detain  the  reader 
with  mentioning  only  one.  I  was  called  to  visit  a  wo- 
man whose  mind  was  disordered,  and,  on  my  observing 
that  it  was  a  case  which  required  the  assistance  of  a  phy- 
sician, rather  than  that  of  a  clergyman,  her  husband  re- 
plied; "  Si?-,  we  sent  to  you,  because  it  is  a  religious  case 
— her  mind  has  been  injured  by  constantly  reading'  the 
Bible  "  I  have  known  many  instances,  said  I,  of  per- 
sons brought  to  their  senses  by  reading  the  Bible  ;  but 
it  is  possible,  that  too  intense  an  application  to  that,  as 
well  as  to  any  other  subject,  may  have  disordered  your 
wife.  "  There  is  every  proof  of  it"  said  he  ;  and  was 
proceeding  to  multiply  his  proofs,  till  his  brother  inter- 
rupted him  by  thus  addressing  me  : 

"  Sir,  I  have  no  longer  patience  to  stand  by  and  see  you 
imposed  on.  The  truth  of  the  matter  is  this  ;  my  brother 
has  forsaken  his  wife,  and  been  long  connected  with  a  loose 
woman.  He  had  the  best  of  wives  in  her,  and  one  who 
was  strongly  attached  to  him :  but  she  has  seen  his  heart 
and  property  given  to  another,  and,  in  her  solitude  and 
distress,  went  to  the  Bible,  as  the  only  consolotion  left  her. 
Her  health  and  spirits  at  length  sunk  tinder  her  troubles  ; 
and  there  she  lies  distracted,  not  from  reading  her  Bible, 
but  from  the  infidelity  and  cruelty  of  her  husband. 9%~~ 
Does  the  reader  wish  to  know  what  reply  the  husband 
made  to  this?  He  made  no  reply  at  all,  but  left  the 
room  with  confusion  of  face  I 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON, 

pressure  and  obliquity  of  its  course,  prevailed 
against  the  supports  he  had  received,  and  pre 
cipitated  him  again  into  his  former  distress. 

I  inquired  of  Mr.  N.  as  to  the  manner  in 
which  Mr.  Cowper's  disorder  returned,  aftei 
an  apparent  recovery  of  nearly  nine  years  co:i 
tinuance ;  and  was  informed,  that  the 'first 
symptoms  were  discovered  one  morning,  in 
his  discourse,  soon  after  he  had  undertaken  a 
new  engagement  in  composition. 

As-a  general  and  full  account  of  this  extra 
ordinary  genius  is  already  before  the  public, 
such  particulars  would  not  have  occupied  so 
much  room  in  these  Memoirs,  but  with  a  view 
of  removing  the  false  statements  that  have  been 
.made. 

Of  great  importance  also  was  the  vicinity 
of  Mr.  N.'s  residence  to  that  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Scott,  then  curate  of  Ravenstone  and  Weston 
Underwood,  and  now  rector  of  Aston  Sand- 
ford  ;  a  man  whose  ministry  and  writings  have 
since  been  so  useful  to  mankind.  This  cler- 
gyman was  nearly  a  Socinian :  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  ridiculing  evangelical  religion,  and  la 
boured  to  bring  over  Mr.  N.  to  his  own  sen 
timents.  Mr.  Scott  had  married  a  lady  from 
the  family  of  a  Mr.  Wright,  a  gentleman  in 
his  parish,  who  had  promised  to  provide  I 

La 


122  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

him.  But  Mr.  Scott's  objection  to  subscrip- 
tion arose  so  high,  that  he  informed  his  patron 
it  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt  providing  for 
him  ia  the  Church  of  England  ;  as  he  could 
not  conscientiously  accept  a  living,  on  the 
condition  of  subscribing  its  liturgy  and  arti- 
cles. "  This,"  said  Mr.  N.,  "  gave  me  hopes 
of  Mr.  Scott's  being  sincere,  however  wrong 
in  his  principles." 

But  the  benefit  which  Mr.  Scott  derived 
from  his  neighbour,  will  best  appear  in  his  own 
words.  * 

"  I  was,  says  he,  full  of  proud  self-sufficien^ 
cy,  very  positive,  and  very  obstinate  :  and, 
being  situated  in  the  neighbourhood  of  some 
of  those  whom  the  world  calls  Methodists,  I 
joined  in  the  prevailing  sentiment ;  held  them 
in  sovereign  contempt ;  spoke  of  them  with 
derision  ;  declaimed  against  them  from  the 
pulpit,  as  persons  full  of  bigotry,  enthusiasm, 
and  sptritual  pride  ;  laid  heavy  things  to  their 
charge ;  and  endeavoured  to  prove  the  doc- 
trines, which  I  supposed  them  to  hold,  (for  I 
had  never  read  their  books)  to  be  dishonoura- 
ble to  God,  and  destructive  of  morality.  And 
though  in  some  companies  I  chose  to  conceal 

part  of  my  sentiments,  and  in  all,  affected  to 

&  Sc     .V  Force  < 


}  3 

;  of  Truth,  p.  11,  5th  edit. 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON,  123 

speak  as  a  friend  to  universal  toleration  ;   j 
scarcely  any  person  could  be  more  proudly 
and  violently    prejudiced  against  both  theii 
persons  and  principles  than  I  then  was. 

"  In  January  1774  two  of  my  parishioners, 
a  man  and  his  wife,  lay  at  the  point  of  death. 
I  had  heard  of  the  circumstance,  but,  accor- 
ding  to  my  general  custom,  not  being  sent  for, 
I  took  no  notice  of  it ;  till  one  evening,  the 
woman  being  now  dead,  and  the  man  a  dying, 
I  heard  that  my  neighbour  Mr.  N.  had  been 
several  times  to  visit  them.  Immediately  my 
conscience  reproached  me  with  being  shame- 
fully negligent,  in  sitting  at  home  within  a  few- 
doors  of  dying  persons,  my  general  hearers, 
and  never  going  to  visit  them.  Directly  it 
occurred  to  me,  that,  whatever  contempt  I 
might  have  for  Mr.  N.'s  doctrines,  I  must  ac- 
knowledge his  practice  to  be  more  consistent 
with  the  ministerial  character  than  my  own. 
He  must  have  more  zeal  and  love  for  souls, 
than  I  had,  or  he  would  not  have  walked  so  far 
to  visit,  and  supply  my  Jack  of  care  to  those 
who,  as  far  as  I  was  concerned,  might  have 
been  left  to  perish  in  their  sins. 

u  This  reflection  affected  me  so  much,  that 
without  delay,  and  very  earnestly,  yea  with 
tears,-  I  besought  the  Lord  to  forgive  my  past 


i-4  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

neglect ;  and  I  resolved  thenceforth  to  be  more 
attentive  to  this  duty  :  which  resolution, 
though  at  fifst  formed  in  ignorant  dependence 
on  my  own  strength,  I  have  by  divine  grace 
been  enabled  hitherto  to  keep. — I  went  imme- 
diately to  visit  the  survivor  ;  and  the  affecting 
bight  of  one  person  already  dead,  and  another 
expiring  in  the  same  chamber,  served  more 
deeply  to  impress  my  serious  convictions. 

"  It  was  at  this  time  that  my  correspondence 
with  Mr.  N.  commenced.  At  a  visitation. 
May  1775,  we  exchanged  a  few  words  on  a 
controverted  subject,  in  the  room  among  the 
clergy,  which  I  believe  drew  many  eyes  upon 
us.  At  that  time  he  prudently  declined  the 
discourse  ;  but  a  day  or  two  after  he  sent  me 
a  short  note,  with  a  little  book  for  my  perusal. 
This  was  the  very  thing  I  wanted;  and  I  glad- 
ly embraced  the  opportunity  which,  according 
to  my  wishes,  seemed  now  to  offer;  God 
knoweth,  with  no  inconsiderable  expectations 
that  my  arguments  would  prove  irresistibly 
convincing,  and  that  I  should  have  the  honour 
of  rescuing  a  well-meaning  person  from  his 
cnthusiastical  delusions. 

"  I  had,  indeed,  by  this  time  conceived  a 
very  favourable  opinion  of  him,  and  a  sort  of 
respect  for  him,  being  acquainted  with  the  cha  . 


REV.    JOHN    NEWT  OX. 

meter  he  sustained  even  among  some  persons, 
who  expressed  a  disapprobation  of  his  doc- 
trines. They  were  forward  to  commend  him 
as  a  benevolent,  disinterested,  inoffensive  per- 
son, and  a  laborious  minister.  But,  on  the 
other  hand,  I  looked  upon  his  religious  senti- 
ments as  rank  fanaticism ;  and  entertained  a 
very  contemptible  opinion  of  his  abilities,  na- 
tural and  acquired.  Once  I  had  had  the  cu- 
riosity to  hear  him  preach;  and,  not  under- 
standing his  sermon,  I  made  a  very  great  jest 
of  it,  where  I  could  do  it  without  giving  of- 
fence. I  had  also  read  one  of  his  publica- 
tions ;  but  for  the  same  reason  I  thought  the 
greater  part  of  it  whimsical,  paradoxical,  and 
unintelligible. 

"  Concealing,  therefore,  the  true  motives  of 
my  conduct,  under  the  offer  of  friendship,  and 
a  professed  desire  to  know  the  truth,  (which 
amidst  all  my  self-sufficiency  and  prejudice,  I 
trust  the  Lord  had  even  tMhi  given  me  ;)  with 
the  greatest  affectation  of  candour,  and  of  amine! 
a  to  conviction,  I  wrote  him  a  long  letter  ; 
purposing  to  draw  from  him  such  an  avowal 
and  explanation  of  his  sentiments,  as  might  in- 
troduce a  conaroversial  discussion  of  our  reli- 
gious differences. 

,    f*  The  event  by  no  means  answered  my  ex- 
L2 


1.26  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

pectation.%  He  returned  a  very  friendly  and 
long  answer  to  my  letter  ;  in  which  he  care- 
fully avoidqj^  the  mention  of  those  doctrines 
which  he  knew  would  offend  me.  He  de- 
clared that  he  believed  me  to  be  one  who  fear- 
ed God,  and  was  under  the  teaching  of  his 
Holy  Spirit ;  that  he  gladly  accepted  my  offer 
of  friendship  ;  and  was  no  ways  inclined  to 
dictate  to  me  ;  but  that,  leaving  me  to  the 
guidance  of  the  Lord,  he  would  be  glad,  as 
occasion  served,  from  time  to  time,  to  bear 
testimony  to  the  truths  of  the  Gospel,  and  to 
communicate  his  sentiments  to  me  on  aijy 
subject,  with  ail  the  confidence  of  friendship. 
"  In  this  manner  our  correspondence  be- 
gan ;  and  it  was  continued,  in  the  interchange 
of  nine  or  ten  letters,  till  December  in  the 
same  year.  Throughout  I  held  my  purpose, 
and  he  his.  I  made  use  of  every  endeavour 
to  draw  him  into  controversy,  and  filled  my 
letters  with  defiTiitions,  inquiries,  arguments, 
objections,  and  consequences  requiring  expli- 
cit answers.  He,  on  the  other  hand,  shunned 
every  thing  controversial  as  much  as  possible, 
and  filled  his  letters  with  the  most  useful  and 
least  offensive  instructions  :  except  that,  now 
*nd  then,  he  dropped  his  hints  concerning  the 
necessity,  the  true  nature,  and  the  efficacy  of 


REV.     J  WTOX.  127 

faith,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  <vas  to  be 
sOtight  and  obtained;  and  concerning  some 
other  matters,  suited,  as  he  judged,  to  help 
me  forward  ii  my  inquiry  after  truth.  But 
they  much  offended  my  prejudices,  afforded 
me  matter  of  disputation,  and  at  that  time  wrere 
of  little  use  to  me. 

"  When  I  had  made  this  little progres  in  seek- 
ing the  truth,  my  acquaintance  with  Mr.  N. 
resumed.  From  the  conclusion  of  our 
correspondence,  in  December  1775,  till  April 
1 777,  it  had  been  almost  wholly  dropped.  To 
speak  plainly,  I  did  not  care  for  his  company  ; 
I  did  not  mean  to  make  any  use  of  him  as  an 
instructor;  and  I  was  unwilling  the  world 
should  think  us  in  any  way  connected.  But, 
under  discouraging  circumstances,  I  had  occa- 
sion to  call  upon  him ;  and  his  discourse  so 
comforted  and  edified  me,  that  my  heart,  being 
by  his  means  relieved  from  its  burden,  became 
susceptible  of  affection  for  him.  From  that 
time  I  was  inwardly  pleased  to  have  him  for 
my  friend ;  though  not  as  now  rejoiced  to  call 
him  so.  I  had,  however,  even  at  that  time,  no 
thoughts  of  learning  doctrinal  truth  from  him, 
and  was  ashamed  to  be  detected  in  the  compa- 
ny ;  but  I  sometimes  stole  away  to  spend  an 
hour  with  him.     About  the  same  period,    I 


1:28  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

once  heard  him  preach,  but  still  it  was  foolish- 
ness to  me*;  his  sermon  being  principally  upon 
the  believers  experience,  in  some  particulars, 
with  which  I  was  unacquainted. — So  that, 
though  I  loved  and  valued  him,  I  considered 
him  as  a  person  misled  by  enthusiastical  no- 
tions ;  and  strenuously  insisted  that  we  should 
never  think  alike,  till  we  met  in  heaven." 

Mr.  Scott,  after  going  on  to  particularize 
his  progress  in  the  discovery  of  truth,  and  the 
the  character  of  Mr.  N.  as  its  minister,  after- 
wards adds  : 

"  The  pride  of  reasoning,  and  the  conceit  of 
superiour  discernment,  had  all  along  accompa- 
nied me  ;  and,  though  somewhat  broken,  had  yet 
considerable  influence.  Hitherto,  therefore,  I 
had  not  thought  of  hearing  any  person  preach  ; 
because  I  did  not  think  any  one  in  the  circle 
of  my  acquaintance  capable  of  giving  me  such 
•information  as  I  wanted.  But  being  at  length 
convinced  that  Mr.  N.  had  been  right,  and 
that  I  had  been  mistaken,  in  the  several  parti- 
culars in  which  we  had  differed^  it  occurred  to 
me,  that,  having  preached  these  doctrines  so 
long,  he  must  understand  many  things  con- 
cerning them  to  which  I  was  a  stranger.  Now, 
therefore,  though  not  without  much  remain- 
ing prejudice,  dtid  not  less  in  the  character  of 


REV.    JOHN    NE  I 

a  judge  than  of  a  scholar,  I  condescended  to 

be  his  hearer,  and  occasionally  to  attend  his 
preaching,  and  that  of  some  other  ministers  ; — 
I  soon  perceived  the  benefit ;  for  from  time  to 
time  the  secrets  of  my  heart  were  discovered 
to  me,  far  beyond  what  I  had  hitherto  noticed  ; 
and  I  seldom  returned  from  hearing  a  sermon, 
without  having  conceived  a  meaner  opinion  of 
myself — without  having  attained  to  a  further 
acquaintance  with  my  deficiencies,  weaknesses, 
corruptions,  and  wants — or  without  being  sup- 
plied with  fresh  matter  for  prayer,  and  direct- 
ed to  greater  watchfulness.  I  likewise  learned 
the  use  of  experience  in  preaching ;  and  was 
convinced,  that  the  readiest  way  to  reach  the 
hearts  and  consciences  of  others,  was  to  speak 
from  my  own.  In  short,  I  gradually  saw  more 
and  more  my  need  of  instruction,  and  w^as  at 
length  brought  to  consider  myself  as  a  very 
novice  in  religious  matters.  Thus  I  began 
experimentally  to  perceive  our  Lord's  mean- 
ing, when  he  says,  '  Except  ye  receive  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  as  a  little  child,  ye  shall  in 
no  wise  enter  therein.'  " 

If  I  have  seemed  to  digress  in  dwelling  so 
long  on  these  three  characters,  let  the  reader 
consider  the  importance  of  the  facts — their  in- 
timate connection  with  Mr.  N.'s  history — and 


130  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

let  me  inform  him  that  the  author  has  same, 
thing  much  nearer  his  heart  than  that  of  preci- 
sion in  setting  forth  the  history  of  an  individual ; 
/namely,  that  of  exhibiting  the  nature  and  im- 
portance of  vital  and  experimental  religion  :  he 
therefore  gladly  brings  forward  any  fact  found 
in  his  way,  which  may  tend  to  illustrate  it. 

But  to  return  to  the  more  immediate  sub- 
ject of  these  Memoirs.  In  the  year  1776  Mr. 
N.  was  afflicted  with  a  tumour  or  wen,  which 
had  formed  on  his  thigh ;  and  on  account  of 
its  growing  more  large  and  troublesome,  he 
resolved  to  undergo  the  experiment  of  extirpa- 
tion. This  obliged  him  to  go  to  London  for 
the  operation,  which  was  successfully  perform- 
ed, October  10th,  by  the  late  Mr.  Warner,  of 
Guy's  Hospital.  I  remember  hearing  him 
speak  several  years  afterwards  of  this  trying 
occasion ;  but  the  trial  did  not  seem  to  have 
affected  him  as  a  painful  operation,  so  much  as 
a  critical  opportunity  in  which  he  might  fail  in 
demonstrating  the  patience  of  a  Christian  under 
pain.  "  I  felt,", said  he,  "  that  being  enabled 
to  bear  a  very  sharp  operation  with  tolerable 
calmness  and  confidence,  was  a  greater  favour 
granted  to  me  than  the  deliverance  from  my 
malady." — His  reflections  upon  the  occasion, 
irji  his  diary,  will  be  found  under  note  E, 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  131 

While  Mr.  N.  thus  continued  faithfully  di  > 
charging  the  duties  of  his  station,  and  watch- 
ing for  the  temporal  and  eternal  welfare  of  his 
flock,  a  dreadful  fire  broke  out  at  Olney,  Oc- 
tober 1777.     Mr.  N.  took  an  active  part  in 
comforting  and  relieving  the  sufferers  :  he  col- 
lected upwards  of  ^200  for  them ;  a  consider 
able  sum  of  money,  when  the  poverty,  and  late 
calamity  of  the  place  is  regarded.     Such  in- 
stances of  benevolence    towards  the  people, 
with   the  constant  assistance  he  afforded  the 
poor,  by  the  help  of  Mr.  Thornton,  naturally 
led  him  to  expect  that  he  should  have  so  much 
influence  as  to  restrain  gross  licentiousness  on 
particular  occasions.    But,  to  use  his  own  i 
pression,  he  had  "  lived  to  bury  the  old  crop, 
on  which  any  dependence  could  be  placed." 
He  preached  a  weekly  lecture,  which  occurred 
that  year  on  the  5th  of  November ;  and,  as  ht 
feared  that  the  usual  way  of  celebrating  it  a* 
Olney,  might  endanger  his  hearers  in  their  at- 
tendance at  the  church,  he  exerted  himself  to 
preserve  some  degree  of  quiet  on  that  evening. 
Instead,  however,  of  harkening  to  his  intreaties. 
the  looser  sort  exceeded  their  former  extrava- 
gance,   drunkenness,  and   rioting,   and   even 
obliged  him  to  send  out  money,  to  preserve, 
his  house  from  violence.     This  happened  but 


132  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

a  year  before  he  finally  left  Olney.  When  he 
related  this  occurrence  to  me,  he  added,  that 
he  believed  he  should  never  have  left  the  place 
while  he  lived,  had  not  so  incorrigible  a  spirit 
prevailed,  in  a  parish  he  had  long  laboured  to 
reform. 

But  I  must  remark  here,  that  this  is  no  soli- 
tary fact,  nor  at  all  unaccountable.  The  Gos- 
pel we  are  informed  is  not  merely  a  savour  of 
life  unto  life,  but  also  of  death  unto  death. 
Those  whom  it  does  not  soften  it  is  often 
found  to  harden.  Thus  we  find  St.  Paul  went 
into  the  synagogue  and  spake  boldly  for  the 
space  of  three  months,  disputing  and  persua- 
ding the  things  concerning  the  kingdom  of 
God.  But,  when  divers  were  hardened,  and 
believed  not,  but  spake  evil  of  that  way  before 
the  multitude,  he  departed  from  them. 

The  strong  man  armed,  seeks  to  keep  his 
house  and  goods  in  peace,  and,  if  a  minister 
is  disposed  to  let  this  sleep  of  death  remain, 
that  minister's  own  house  and  goods  may  be 
permitted  to  remain  in  peace  also.  Such  a 
minister  may  be  esteemed  by  his  parish  as  a 
good  kind  of  man-~-quiet,  inoffensive,  candid, 
&c.  and  if  he  discovers  any  zeal,  it  is  directed 
to  keep  the  parish  in  the  state  he  found  it  ; 
that  is,   in  ignorance  and  unbelief,  worldly- 


REV.    JOHN     NI 

minded  and  hard-hearted — the  very  state  of 
peace  in  which  the  strong  man  armed  seeks 
to  keep  his  palace  or  citadel,  the  human 
heart. 

But  if  a  minister,  like  the  subject  of  these 
Memoirs,  enters  into  the  design  of  his  com- 
mission— if  he  be  alive  to  the  interest  of  his 
own  soul,  and  that  of  the  souls  committed  to 
his  charge  ;  or  as  the  Apostle  expresses  it,  to 
save  himself  and  those  that  hear  him,  he  may 
depend  upon  meeting  in  his  own  experience 
the  truth  of  that  declaration,  Yea,  all  that  will 
live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus,  shall  suffer  perse- 
cution, in  one  form  of  it  or  another.  One  of 
the  most  melancholy  sights  we  behold  is,  when 
any  part  of  the  church,  through  prejudice, 
joins  the  world  in  throwing  the  stone.  There 
is,  however,  such  a  determined  enmity  to  god- 
liness itself,  in  the  breasts  of  a  certain  class  of 
men  existing  in  most  parishes,  that,  whatever 
learning  and  good  sense  is  found  in  their 
teacher — whatever  consistency  of  character  or 
blameless  deportment  he  exhibits — whatever 
benevolence  or  bounty  (like  that  which  Mr. 
N.  exercised  at  Olney)  may  constantly  appear 
in  his  character — such  men  remain  irreconci- 
lable. They  will  resist  every  attempt  made 
to  appease  their  enmity.  God  alone,  who 
M 


134  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

changed  the  hearts   of  Paul  and  of  Newton , 
can  heal  these  bitter  waters. 

I  recollect  to  have  heard  Mr.  N.  say  on 
such  an  occasion,  "  When  God  is  about  to 
perform  any  great  work,  he  generally  permits 
some  great  opposition  to  it.  Suppose  Pha- 
raoh had  acquiesced  in  the  departure  of  the 
children  of  Israel — or  that  they  had  met  with 
no  difficulties  in  the  way — they  would,  indeed, 
have  passed  from  Egypt  to  Canaan  writh  ease  : 
but  they,  as  well  as  the  church  in  all  future 
ages,  would  have  been  great  losers.  The 
wonder-working  God  would  not  have  been 
seen  "in  those  extremities  which  make  his  arm 
so  visible — A  smooth  passage  here,  would 
have  made  but  a*  poor  story." 

But  under  such  disorders,  Mr.  N.  in  no  one 
instance  that  I  ever  heard  of,  was  tempted  to 
depart  from  the  line  marked  out  by  the  pre- 
cept and  example  of* his  master.  He  conti- 
nued to  bless  them  that  persecuted  him ; 
knowing  that  the  servant  of  the  Lord  must 
not  strive,  but  be  gentle  unto  all  men,  apt  to 
teach,  patient.  To  the  last  day  he  spent 
among  them,  he  went  straight  forward,  in 
meekness,  instructing  those  that  opposed,  if 
God  peradventure  might  give  them  repentance 
to  the  acknowledging  the  truth. 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON".  135 

But  before  we  take  a  final  leave  of  Olaey, 
the  reader  must  be  informed  of  another  part 
6f  Mr:  N.'s  labours.  He  had  published  a  vo- 
lume of  sermons,  before  he  took  orders,  dated 
Liverpool,  Jan.  1,  1760.  In  1762,  he  pub- 
lished liis  Omicron,  to  which  his  tetters,  si^u- 

Vigil,  were  afterwards  annexed.  In  1764, 
d  his  Narrative.  In  1767,  a  volume 
of  sermons,  preached  at  Olney.  In  1769,  his 
Review  of  Ecclesiastical  History.  And  in 
177(J,  a  volume  of  hymns;  of  which  some  were 
composed  by  Mr.  Cowper,  and  dis  bed 

by  a  C.  To  these  succeeded,  in  1781,  his 
valuable  work  Cardiphonia  ;  but  mere  will 
be  said  of  these  in  their  place. 

From  Olney  Mr.  N.  was  removed  to  the 
rectory  of  the  united  parishes  of  St.  Mary 
Woolnoth,  and  St.  Mary  Woolchurch-Haw, 
Lombard  street,  on  the  presentation  of  his 
friend  Mr.  Thornton. 

It  is  remarkable,  that  these  parishes  had 
been  favoured  with  two  very  eminent  pastors 
before  Mr.  N.  appeared  ;  namely,  the  Rev. 
Josias  Shute,  B.  D.  Archdeacon  of  Cole!; 
ter,  and  Rector  of  St.  Mary  Woolnoth,  who 
died  1643 — and  the  Rev.  Ralph  Robinson, 
who  died  in   1655.        There  is  a  well-written 

omit  of  Mr.  Shute  in  the  Christian  Ob 


136  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

vcv  of  January  1804;  from  which  it  appears, 
that  his  piety,  ministerial  talents,  and  modera- 
tion, in  those  difficult  times,  were  very  much 
distinguished,  during  the  thirty-three  years  he 
continued  rector*.  Mr.  Robinson  died  young 
but  has  left  a  volume  of  truly  evangelical  dis- 
courses, preached  at  St.  Mary's. 

Some  difficulty  arose  on  Mr.  N.'s  being 
presented,  by  Mr.  Thornton's  right  of  pre- 
sentation being  claimed  by  a  nobleman  ;  the 
question  was,  therefore,  at  length  brought  be- 
fore the  House  of  Lords,  and  determined  in 
favour  of  Mr.  Thornton.  Mr.  N.  preached 
his  first  sermon  in  these,  parishes,  Dec.  19, 
1779,  from  Eph.  iv.  15.  Speaking  the  truth 
in  love.  It  contained  an  affectionate  address 
to  his  parishioners,  and  was  directly  published 
for  their  use. 

*  Granger,  in  his  Biographical  History  of  England, 
says,  that  "  his  learning  in  divinity  and  ecclesiastical 
history  was  extensive,  indeed  almost  universal."  And 
even  Walker,  in  his  Account  of  the  Clergy,  says,  that, 
"'In  the  beginning  of  the  troubles,  he  was  molested 
and  harrassed  to  death,  and  denied  a  funeral  sermon  to 
be  preached  for  him  by  Dr.  Holdsworth,  as  he  desired 
— that  he  was  a  person  of  great  piety,  charity,  and  gra- 
vity, and  of  a  most  sweet  and  affable  temper."  It  fur- 
ther appears,  that,  like  his  successor  Mr.  N.  he 
preached  twice  on  the  Sunday,  an d^ had  a  lecture  in 
hsi  church  every  Wednesday. 


REV.    J  Oil  N     N  E\\  TON. 

Here  a  new  and  very  distinct  scene  of  a< 
and  usefulness  was  set  before  him.    Placed  in 
the  centre  of  London — in  an  opulent  neigh - 

irhood — with  connections  daily  increasing, 
lie  had  now  a  course  of  service  to  pursue,  in 
several  respects  different  from  his   former  at 

ley.  Being,  however,  well  acquainted  with 
word  of  God  and  the  heart  of  man,  he  pro- 
d  to  himself  no  new  weapons 

pulling  down  the  strong  holds  of  sin  and 

around  'him.     He   perceived,    indeed, 

most  of  his  parishioners  too  intent  upon  their 

ilth  and  merchandize  to  pay  much  regard 

their  new  minister  ;  but,  since  the}  would 
hot  come  to  him,  he  was  determined  to  go,  as 
far  as  he  could,  to  them  ;  and,  e,  soon 

r  his  institution,  he  sent  a  printed  add- 
to  his  parishioners:   he  afterv  ht  them 

ither  address,   on  the  us 

taken  up  against  the  C    spek     What  ef- 
fects these  attempts  had  then  upon  thei 
not  appear  ;   certain  it  is,  tli^tt  these  her 

acts  of  his   ministry,    will  be   recollected  by 
them,  when  the  objects  of  their  present  p\ir- 
5  arc  forgotten  or  lament 

I  have  heard  Mr.  N.  speak  with  great  feel- 
ing on  the  circumstances  of  his  last  import; 
station,     *i  That  one,"  said  he,""  of  the  fnost 
M2 


138  MEMOIRS    OP    THE 

ignorant,  the  most  miserable,  and  the  most 
abandoned  of  slaves,  should  be  plucked  from 
his  forlorn  state  of  exile  on  the  coast  of  Afri- 
ca, and  at  length  be  appointed  minister  of  the 
parish  of  the  first  magistrate  of  the  first  city  in 
the  world — -that  he  should  there  not  only  testi- 
fy of  such  grace,  but  stand  up  as  a  singular 
instance  and  monument  of  it — that  he  should 
be  enabled  to  record  it  in  his  history,  preach- 
ing, and  writings  to  the  world  at  large — is  a 
fact  I  can  contemplate  with  admiration,  but 
never  sufficiently  estimate." — This  reflection, 
indeed,  was  so  present  to  his  mind  on  all  oc- 
casions, and  in  all  places,  that  he  seldom  pass- 
ed a  single  day  any  where,  but  he  was  found 
referring  to  the  strange  event,  in  one  way  or 
other. 

It  may  be  necessary  to  add,  that  the  latter 
part  of  these  Memoirs  leads  me  to  speak  so 
personally  of  my  friend,  that  any  further  in- 
spection from  his  own  eye  was  deemed  impro- 
per. 

When  Mr.  N.  came  to  St.  Mary's,  he  resi- 
ded for  some  time  in  Charles'  Square,  Hox- 
ton  ;  afterwards  he  removed  to  Coleman  street 
buildings,  where  he  continued  till  his  death. 
Being  of  the  most  friendly  and  communica- 
tive disposition^  his  house  was  open  to  Chris- 


v.  JOHN  m:\vtox. 

tians  of  all  ranks  and  denominations.  II 
like  a  lather  among  his  children,  he  used  to 
entertain,  encourage  and  instruct  his  friends, 
especially  younger  ministers,  or  candidates  for 
the  ministry.  Here  also  the  poor,  the  afflict- 
ed, and  the  tempted,  found  an  asylum,  and  a 
sympathy,  which  they  could  scarcely  find,  in 
an  equal  degree,  any  where  besides. 

His  timely  hints  were  often  given  with  much 
point,  and  profitable  address,  to  the  numerous 
acquaintance  which  surrounded  him  in  this 
public  station.  Some  time  after  Mr.  N.  had 
published  his  Omicron,  and  described  the 
three  stages  of  growth  in  religion,  from  the 
blade,  the  ear,  and  the  full  corn  in  the  ear, 
distinguishing  them  by  the  letters  A.  B.  and 
C.  a  conceited  young  minister  wrote  to  Mr. 
X.  telling  him  that  he  read  his  own  character 
accurately  drawn  in  that  of  C.  Mr.  N.  wrote 
in  reply,  that  in  drawing  the  character  of  C. 
or  full  maturity,  he  had  forgotten  to  add  till 
now,  one  prominent  feature  of  C.'s  character, 
namely,  that  C.  never  knew  his  own  face. 

"  It  grieves  me,"  said  Mr.  N.  "to  see  so 
few  of  my  wealthy  parishioners  come  to 
church.  I  always  consider  the  rich  as  under 
greater  obligations  to  the  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel than  the  poor.     For  at  church,  the  rich 


140  MEMOIRS    OP    THE 

must  hear  the  whole  truth  as  well  as  others. 
There  they  have  no  mode  of  escape.  But  let 
them  once  get  home,  you  will  be  troubled  to 
get  at  them  ;  and,  when  you  are  admitted,  you 
are  so  fettered  with  punctilio — so  interrupted 
and  damped  with  the  frivolous  conversation  of 
their  friends,  that,  as  Archbishop  Leighton 
says,  c  it  is  well  if  your  visit  does  not  prove  a 
-blank  or  a  blot.'  " 

Mr.  N.  used  to  improve  every  occurrence 
which  he  could  with  propriety  bring  into  the 
pulpit.  One  night  he  found  a  bill  put  up  at 
St.  Mary  Woolnotlvs,  upon  which  he  com- 
mented a  great  deal  when  he  came  to  preach. 
The  bill  was  to  this  effect,  "  A  young  man, 
having  come  to  the  possesion  of  a  very  consi- 
derable fortune,  desires  the  prayers  of  the  con- 
gregation, that  he  may  be  preserved  from  the 
snares  to  which  it  exposes  him.'' — "  Now  if 
the  man,"  said  Mr.  N.  "  had  lost  a  fortune,  the 
world  wrould  not  have  wondered  to  have  seen 
him  put  up  a  bill,  but  this  man  has  been  bet- 
ter taught." 

Coming  out  of  his  church,  on  a  Wednes- 
day, a  lady  stopped  him  on  the  steps  and  said, 
hi  The  ticket,  of  which  I  held  a  quarter,  is 
drawn  a  prize  of  ten  thousand  pounds.  I 
know  you  will  congratulate  me  upon  the  oc- 


JtEV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  Ill 

ion." — "  Madam,"  said  he,  "  as  for  a  friend 
under  temptation,  I  will  endeavour  to  pray  for 
you." 

Soon  after  he  came  to  St.  Mary's,  I  re- 
member to  have  heard  him  say,  in  a  eertain 
company,  "  Some  have  observed  that  I 
preach  shorter  sermons  on  a  Sunday  morn- 
ing,  and  with  more  caution  :  but  this  I  do  up- 
on principle. — I  suppose  I  may  have  two  or 
three  of  my  bankers  present,  and  some  others 
of  my  parish,  who  have  hitherto  been  stran- 
gers to  my  views  of  truth.  I  endeavour  to 
imitate  the  apostle.  '  I  became,'  says  he,  *  all 
things  to  all  men;'  but  observe  the  end,  it 
was  in  order  to  gain  some — The  fowler  must 
go  cautiously  to  meet  shy  birds,  but  he  will 
not  leave  his  powder  and  shot  behind  him.  I 
have  fed  you  with  milk,  says  the  apostle  ;  but 
there  are  some,  that  are  not  only  for  forcing 
strong  meat,  but  bones  too,  down  the  throat 
of  the  child. — We  must  have  patience  with  a 
single  step  in  the  case  of  an  infant  ;  and  there 
one-step  books. and  sermons  which  are 
good  in  their  place.  Christ  taught  his  disci- 
ples as  they  were  able  to  bear ;  and  it  was  up- 
on the  same  principle  that  the  apostle  accom- 
modated himself  to  prejudice. — Now,"  con- 
tinued he,  "  what  I  wish  to  remark  on  tl 


142  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

considerations  is,  that,  this  apostolical  princi- 
ple, steadily  pursued,  will  render  a  minister 
apparently  inconsistent — superficial  hearers 
will  think  him  a  trimmer.  On  the  other  hand, 
a  minister,  destitute  of  the  apostolical  princi- 
ple and  intention,  and  directing  his  whole 
force  to  preserve  the  appearance  of  consisten- 
cy, may  thus  seem  to  preserve  it ;  hut  let  me 
tell  you,  here  is  only  the  form  of  faithfulness, 
without  the  spirit." 

I  could  not  help  observing  one  day,  how 
much  Mr.  N.  was  grieved  with  the  mistake 
of  a  minister^  who  appeared  to  pay  too  much 
attention  to  politics.  "  For  my  part,"  said  he, 
"  I  have  no  temptation  to  turn  politician,  and 
much  less  to  inflame  a  party,  in  these  times. 
When  a  ship  is  leaky,  and  a  mutinous  spirit 
divides  the  company  on  board :  a  wise  man 
wrould  say,  '  My  good  friends,  while  we  are 
'  debating,  the  water  is  gaining  on  us — we 
1  had  better  leave  the  debate,  and  go  to  the 
8  pumps.' — I  endeavour,"  continued  he,  "  to 
turn  my  people's  eyes  from  instruments  to 
God.  I  am  continually  attempting  to  shew 
them,  how  far  they  are  from  knowing  either 
the  matter  of  fact,  or  the  matter  of  right.  I 
inculcate  our  great  privileges  in  this  country, 


REV.  JOHN    NEWTON. 

and  advise  a  discontented  man  to  take  a  loci;; 
ing  for  a  little  while  in  Russia  or  Prussia." 

Though  no  great  variety  of  anecdote  is  to 
be  expected  in  a  course  so  stationary  as  this 
part  of  Mr.  N.'s  life  and  ministry  ;  for  some 
times  the  course  of  a  single  day  might  give 
the  account  of  a  whole  year  ;  yet  that  day  was 
so  benevolently  spent,  that  he  was  found  in  it 
not  only  rejoicing  with  those  that  rejoiced,  but 
literally  weeping  with  those  that  wept.  The 
portrait  which  Goldsmith  drew  from  imagina- 
tion, Mr.  N.  realized  in  fact,  insomuch  that 
had  Mr.  N.  sat  for  his  picture  to  the  poet,  it 
could  not  have  been  more  accurately  delinea- 
ted than  by  the  following  lines  in  his  Deserted 
Village  : 

"  Unskilful  he  to  fawn,  or  seek  for  power. 
By  doctrines  fashioned  to  the  varying  hour  ; 
Far  other  aims  his  heart  had  learned  to  prize. 
More  bent  to  raise  the  wretched  than  to  rise. 
Thus  to  relieve  the  wretched  was  his  pride 
And  e'en  his  failings  lean'cl  to  Virtue's  side  ; 
But  in  his  duty  prompt  at  every  call, 
He  watch'd  and  wept,  he  pray.'d  and  felt,  for  all  : 
And  as  a  bird  each  fond  endearment  tries, 
To  tempt  its  new-fledg'd  offspring  to  the  sk 
He  tried  each  art,  reprov'd  each  dull  delay, 
Allur'd  to  brighter  worlds,  and  led  the  way." 

I  remember  to  have  heard  him  say;   when 


144  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

speaking  of  his  continual  interruptions,  "  I 
see  in  this  world  two  heaps  of  human  happi- 
ness and  misery  ;  now  if  I  can  take  but  the 
smallest  bit  from  one  heap  and  add  to  the 
other,  I  carry  a  point. — If,  as  I  go  home,  a 
child  has  dropped  a  halfpenny,  and  if,  by  giv- 
ing it  another,  I  can  wipe  away  its  tears,  I  feel 
I  have  done  something.  I  should  be  glad  in- 
deed to  do  greater  things,  but  I  will  not  ne- 
glect this. — When  I  hear  a  knock  at  my  stu- 
dy door,  I  hear  a  message  from  God  ;  it  may 
be  a  lesson  of  instruction,  perhaps  a  lesson  of 
patience  ;  but,  since  it  is  his  message,  it  must 
be  interesting." 

But  it  was  not  merely  under  his  own  roof 
that  his  benevolent  aims  ,were  thus  exerted  ; 
he  waa  found  ready  to  take  an  active  part  in 
relieving  the  miserable,  directing  the  anxious, 
or  recovering  the  wanderer,  in  whatever  state 
or  place  L  discovered  such :  of  which  take 
the  following  instance. 

Mr. ,  who  is  still  living,  and  who 

holds  a  post  of  great  importance  abroad,  was  a 
youth  of  considerable  talents,  and  who  had  a 
respectable  education.  I  am  not  informed  of 
his  original  destination  in  point  of  profession ; 
but  certain  it  is,  that  he  left  his  parents  in  Scot- 
land, with  a  design  of  viewing  the  world  at 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  145 

targe,  and  that  without  those  pecuniary  resour- 
ces, which  could  render  such  an  undertaking 
convenient,  or  even  practicable.  Yet  having 
the  sanguine  expectations  of  youth,  together 
with  its  inexperience,  he  determinately  pursu- 
ed his  plan.  I  have  seen  an  account  from  his 
own  hand,  of  the  strange,  but  by  no  means  dis- 
honourable, resources  to  which  he  was  reduced 
in  the  pursuit  of  this  scheme  ;  nor  can  romance 
exceed  the  detail.  But  the  particulars  of  his 
long  journey,  till  he  arrived  in  London,  and 
those  which  have  since  occurred,  would  not  be 
proper,  at  present,  for  any  one  to  record  ex- 
cept himself;  and  I  cannot  but  wrish  he  would 
favour  the  world  with  them,  on  the  principle 
which  led  Mr.  N.  to  write  his  Narrative.  To 
London,  however,  he  came ;  and  then,  he 
seemed  to  come  to  himself.  He  had  heard 
Mr.  N.'s  character,  and  on  a  Sunday  evening 
he  came  to  St.  Mary  Woolnoth,  and  stood  in 
one  of  the  aisles  while  Mr.  N.  preached.  In 
the  course  of  that  week  he  wrote  Mr.  N.  some 
account  of  his  adventure,  and  state  of  mind 
Such  circumstances  could  be  addressed  to  no 
man  more  properly.  Mr.  N.'s  favourite  maxr 
im  was  often  in  his  mouth,  more  often  in  his 
actions,  and  always  in  his  heart ; 

H&uci  succurrcrc  disco. 


146  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

Mr.  N.  therefore  gave  notice  from  the  pulpit 
on  the  following  Sunday  evening,  that,  if  the 
person  was  present  who  had  sent  him  such  a 
letter,  he  would  be  glad  to  speak  with  him. 

Mr. gladly  accepted  the  invitation, 

and  came  to  Mr.  N.'s  house,  where  a  friend- 
ship began  which  continued  till  Mr.  N.'s  death. 
Mr.  N.  not  only  afforded  this  youth  the  instruc- 
tion which  he,  at  this  period,  so  deeply  needed ; 
but,  marking  his  fine  abilities  and  corrected 
inclination,  he  introduced  him  to  Henry  Thorn- 
ton, Esq.  who,  inheriting  his  father's  unbound- 
ed liberality,  and  determined  adherence  to  the 
cause  of  real  religion,  readily  patronized  the 

stranger.     Mr.  was,  by  the  munificence 

qf  this  gentleman,  supported  through  a  univer- 
sity education,  and  was  afterwards  ordained 

to  the  curacy  of .  It  was,  however,  thought 

expedient  that  his  talents  should  be  employed 
in  an  important  station  abroad,  which  he  readily 
undertook,  and  in  which* he  now  maintains  a 
very  distinguished  character. 

It  ought  not  to  be  concealed  that  Mr. , 

since  his  advancement,  has  not  only  returned 
his  patron  the  whole  expense  of  his  university 
education,  but  has  also  placed  in  his  hands  an 
ecjual  sum,  for  the  education  of  some  pious 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  147 

youth ;  who  might  be  deemed  worthy  of  that 
assistance  once  afforded  to  himself ! 

Mr.  N.  used  to  spend  a  month  or  two,  an- 
ally,  at  the  house  of  some  friend  in  the  coun- 
f rv  ;   he  always  took   an  affectionate  leave  of 
his  congregation  before  he  departed,  and  spake 
of  his  leaving  town  as   quite  uncertain  of  re- 
turning to  it,  considering  the  variety  of  inci- 
dents which  might  prevent  that  return.     No- 
thing was  more  remarkable  than  his  constant 
habit  of  regarding  the  hand  of  God  in  every 
event,  however  trivial  it  might  appear  to  others. 
On  every  occasion — in  the  concerns  of  every 
hour — in  matters  public  or  private,  like  Enoch, 
he  walked  with  God.     Take  a  single  instance 
of  his  state  of  mind  in  this  respect.     In  walk- 
ing to  his  church  he  would  say,  "  The  way  of 
man  is  not   in   himself,  nor  can  he  conceive 
what  belongs  to  a  single  step — when  I  go  to 
St.  Mary  Woolnoth,  it  seems  the  same  whether 
I  turn  down  Lothbury  or  go  through  the  Old 
Jewry,  but  the  going  through  one  street  and 
not  another,  may  produce  an  effect  of  lasting 
consequences. — A  man  cut  down   my  ham- 
mock  in  sport,  but  had  he  cut  it  down  half  an 
.hour  later,   I  had  not  been  here ;  as  the  ex- 
change of  crew  was  then  making. — A   mat) 
made  a  smoke  on  the  sea  shore  at  the  time  a 


148  MEMOIRS'  OF     THE 

ship  passed,  which  was  thereby  brought  to, 
and  afterwards  brought  me  to  England." 

Mr.  N.  had  experienced  a  severe  stroke 
soon  after  he  came  to  St.  Mary's,  and  while 
he  resided  in  Charles'  Square,  in  the  death  of 
his  niece.  Miss  Eliza  Cunningham.  He  loved 
her  with  the  affection  of  a  parent,  and  she  was, 
indeed,  truly  lovely.  He  had  brought  her  up, 
and  had  observed  that,  with  the  most  amiable 
natural  qualities,  she  possessed  a  real  piety. 
With  every  possible  attention  from  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Newton  and  their  friends,  they  saw  her 
gradually  sink  into  the  arms  of  death ;  but 
fully  prepared  to  meet  him,  as  a  messenger 
sent  from  a  yet  kinder  Father,  to  whom  she 
departed,  October  6th,  1785,  aged  fourteen 
years  and  eight  months.  On  this  occasion  Mr. 
N.  published  some  brief  memoirs  of  her  cha- 
racter and  death. 

In  the  years  1784  and  1785,  Mr.  N.  preach- 
ed a  course  of  sermons,  on  an  occasion,  of 
which  he  gives  the  following  account  in  his 
first  discourse:  "  Conversation  in  almost  every 
company,  for  some  time  past,  has  much  turned 
upon  the  commemoration  of  Handel, — and 
particularly  on  his  oratorio  of  the  Messiah.  I 
mean  to  lead  your  meditations  to  the  language, 
of  the  oratorio,  and  to  consider,  in  their  order, 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTOX.  149 

^  if*  the  Lord,  on  whom  our  breath  depends, 
shall  be  pleased  to  afford  life,  ability,  and  op- 
portunity) the  several  sublime  and  interesting 
passages  of  Scripture,  which  are  the  basis  of 
that  admired  composition."  In  the "year  1786, 
he  published  these  discourses,  in  two  volumes 
octavo.  There  is  a  passage  so  original,  at  the 
beginning  of  his  fourth  sermon,  from  Mai.  iii. 
1 — 3.  The  Lord,  whom  ye  seek,  shall  sud- 
denly come  to  his  temple,  &c.  that  I  shall  trans- 
cribe  it  for  the  use  of  such  as  have  not  seen 
these  discourses  ;  at  the  same  time  it  will,  in 
a  few  words,  convey  Mr.  N.'s  idea  of  the  usual 
performance  of  this  oratorio,  or  attending  its 
performance,  in  present  circumstances. 

"  Whereunto  shall  we  liken  the  people  of 
this  generation,  and  to  what  are  they  like  ?  1 
represent  to  myself  a  number  of  persons,  of 
various  characters,  involved  in  one  common 
charge  of  high  treason.  They  are  already  in  a 
state  of  confinement,  but  not  yet  brought  to 
their  trial.  The  facts,  however,  are  so  plain, 
and  the  evidence  against  them  so  strong  and 
pointed,  that  there  is  not  the  least  doubt  of 
their  guilt  being  fully  proved,  and  that  nothing 
but  a  pardon  can  preserve  them  from  punish^ 
ment.     In  this  situation,  it  should  seem  their 

wisdom  to  avail  themselves  of  every  expedient 

N2 


150  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

in  their  power  for  obtaining  mercy.  But  they 
are  entirely  regardless  of  their  danger,  and  whol- 
ly taken  up  with  contriving  methods  of  amus- 
ing themselves,  that  they  may  pass  away  the 
term  of  their  imprisonment  with  as  much 
cheerfulness  as  possible.  Among  other  re- 
sources, they  call  in  the  assistance  of  music. 
And  amidst  a  great  variety  of  subjects  in  this 
way,  they  are  particularly  pleased  with  one. 
They  choose  to  make  the  solemnities  of  their  im- 
pending trial,  the  character  of  their  judge,  the 
methods  of  his  procedure,  and  the  awful  sen- 
tence to  which  they  are  exposed,  the  ground- 
work of  a  musical  entertainment.  And,  as  if 
they  were  quite  unconcerned  in  the  event,  their 
attention  is  chiefly,  fixed  upon  the  skill  of  the 
composer,  in  adapting  the  style  of  his  music 
to  the  very  solemn  language  and  subject  with 
which  they  are  trifling.  The  king,  however, 
out  of  his  great  clemency  and  compassion  to- 
wards those  who  have  no  pity  for  themselves, 
prevents  them  with  his  goodness.  Undesired 
by  them,  he  sends  them  a  gracious  message. 
He  assures  them  that  he  is  unwilling  they 
shp^ild  suffer  :  he  requires,  yea,  he  entreats 
them  to  submit.  He  points  out  a  way  in  which 
their  confession  and  submission  shall  be  cer- 
tainly accepted ;  and  in  this  way,  which  he 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  151 

condescends  to  prescribe,  he  offers  them  a  free 
and  a  full  pardon.  But  instead  of  taking  a  sin- 
gle step  towards  a  compliance  with  his  good- 
>,  they  set  his  message  likewise  to  music  : 
and  this,  together  with  a  description  of  their 
present  state,  and  of  the  fearful  doom  awaiting 
them,  if  they  continue  obstinate,  is  sung  for 
their  diversion;  accompanied  with  the  sound 
of  cornet,  flute,  harp,  sackbut,  psaltery,  dulci- 
mer, and  all  kinds  of  instruments.  Surely,  if 
such  a  case  as  I  have  supposed  could  be  found 
in  real  life,  though  I  might  admire  the  musical 
taste  of  these  people,  I  should  commiserate 
their  insensibility  !" 

But  clouds  return  after  the  rain  :  a  greater 
loss  than  that  of  Miss  C.  was  to  follow. 
Enough  has  been  said  in  these  Memoirs  al- 
ready to  shew  the  more  than  ordinary  affec- 
tion Mr.  N.  ^lt  for  her  who  had  been  so  long 
his  idol,  as  he  used  to  call  her  ;  of  wThich  I 
shall  add  but  one  more  instance,  out  of  man) 
that  might  easily  be  collected. 

Being  with  him  at  the  house  of  a  lady  at 
Blackheath,  we  stood  at  a  window  which  had 
a  prospect  of  Shooter's  Hill.  "  Ah,"  said 
Mr.  N.  "  I  remember  the  many  journies  1 
took  from  London  to  stand  at  the  top  of  that 
hill,  in  order  to  look  towards  the  part  in  which 


152  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

Mrs.  N.  then  lived :  not  that  I  could  see  the 
spot  itself,  after  travelling  several  miles,  for 
she  lived  far  beyond  what  I  could  see,  when 
on  the  hill ;  but  it  gratified  me  even  to  look 
towards  the  spot :  and  this  I  did  always  once, 
and  sometimes  twice  a  week." — Why,  said  I, 
this  is  more  like  one  of  the  vagaries  of  ro- 
mancethan  of  real  life. — "  True,"  replied  he, 
u  but  real  life  has  extravagancies  that  would 
not  be  admitted  to  appear  in  a  well-written 
romance — they  would  be  said  to  be  out  of  na- 
ture." 

In  such  a  continued  habit  of  excessive  at- 
tachment, it  is  evident  how  keenly  Mr.  N. 
must  have  felt,  while  he  observed  the  progress 
of  a  threatening  induration  in  her  breast.  This 
tumour  seemed  to  have  arisen  from  a  blow  ' 
she  received  before  she  left  Liverpool.  The 
pain  it  occasioned  at  the  time  soon  wore  off, 
but  a  small  lump  remained  in  the  part  affect- 
ed. In  October  1788.  on  the  tumour's  in- 
creasing,  she  applied  to  an  eminent  surgeon, 
who  told  her  it  was  a  cancer,  and  now  too  large 
for  extraction,  and  that  he  could  only  recom- 
mend quiet.  As  the  spring  of  1789  advanced, 
her  malady  increased  ;  and  though  she  was 
able  to  bear  a  journey  to  Southampton,  from 
which  she  returned,,  in  other  respects,  tolera- 


REV.   JOHN     NEWTON.  153 

bly  well  ;  she  grew  gradually  worse  with  the 
cancer,  till  she  expired  December  15,  1790. 

Mr.  N.  made  this  remark  on  her  death, 
41  Just  before  Mrs.  N.'s  disease  became  so 
formidable,  I  was  preaching  on  the  waters  of 
Egypt  being  turned  into  blood.  The  Egyp- 
tians had  idolized  their  river,  and  God  made 
them  loath  it.  I  was  apprehensive  it  would 
soon  be  a  similar  case  with  me." — During 
the  very  affecting  season  of  Mrs.  N.'s  dissolu- 
tion, Mr.  N.  like  David,  wept  and  prayed; 
but  the  desire  of  his  eyes  being  taken  away 
by  the  stroke,  he  too,  like  David,  arose  from 
the  earth,  and  came  into  the  temple  of  the 
Lord,  and  worshipped,  and  that  in  a  manner 
which  surprised  some  of  his  friends. 

I  must  own  I  was  not  one  of  those  who  saw 
any  thing  that  might  not  be  expected  from 
such  a  man,  surrounded  with  such  circum- 
stances. I  did  not  wonder  at  his  undertaking 
to  preach  Mrs.  N.'s  funeral  sermon,  on  the 
following  Sunday,  at  St.  Mary's  :  since  I  al- 
ways considered  him  as  an  original,  and  his 
case  quite  an  exception  to  general  habits  in 
many  respects.  There  also  could  be  no  ques- 
tion as  to  the  affection  he  had  borne  to  the  de- 
ceased— it  had  even  prevailed,  as  he  readily 
allowed,  to  an  eccentric  and  blameable  de- 


154  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

gree ;  and  indeed  after  her  removal,  he  used 
to  observe  an  annual  seclusion,  for  a  special 
recollection  of  her,  whom  through  the  year  he 
had  never  forgotten,  and  from  which  proceed- 
ed a  sort  of  little  elegies,  or  sonnets  to  her  me- 
mory. But  he  clearly  recognised  the  will  of 
God  in  the  removal  of  his  idol,  and  reasoned 
as  David  did  on  the  occasion;  "  While  she 
was  yet  alive  I  fasted  and  wept :  for  I  said, 
Who  can  tell  whether  God  will  be  gracious  to 
me,  that  she  may  live  ?  But,  now  she  is  dead, 
wherefore  should  Can    I  bring  her 

back  again  ?  I  shaK  z;o  to  her,  but  she  shall 
not  return  to  me." 

Besides  which,  Mr.  N.  had  a  favourite  sen- 
timent, which  I  have  heard  him  express  in  dif- 
ferent ways,  long  before  he  had  so  special  an 
occasion  for  illustrating  it  in  practice.  "  God 
in  his  providence,"  he  used  to  say,  "  is  conti- 
nually bringing  about  occasions  to  demon- 
strate characters."  He  used  to  instance  the 
case  of  Achan  and  Judas  among  bad  men ; 
and  that  of  St.  Paul,  Acts,  xxvii.  among  good 
ones.  "  If  any  one,"  said  he,  "  had  asked 
the  centurion  who  Paul  the  prisoner  was,  that 
sailed  with  them  on  board  the  ship  ? — it  is 
probable  he  would  have  thus  replied,  '  lie  is 
4  a  troublesome  enthusiast,  who  has  lately  join. 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  J  55 

1  ed  himself  to  a  certain  sect.  These  people 
*  affirm  that  a  Jewish  malefactor,  who  was  cm- 
%  cified  some  years  usatem,  rose  the 

'  third  day  from  the  dead ;  and  this  Paul  i^ 
i  mad  enough  to  assert  that  Jesus,  the  leader 
i  of  their  sect,  is  not  only  now  alive,  but  that 
i  he  himself  has  seen  him,  and  is  resolved  to 
i  live  and  die  for  him — Poor  crazy  creature  ! ' 
But  God  made  use  of  this  occasion  to  disco- 
ver  the  real  character  of  Paul,  and  taught  the 
centurion,  from  the  circumstances  which  fol- 
lowed, to  whom  it  was  he  owed  his  direction 
in  the  storm,  and  for  whose  sake  he  received 
his  preservation  through  it." 

In  all  trying  occasions,  therefore,  Mr.  X. 
was  particularly  impressed  with  the  idea  of  a 
Christian,  and  especially  of  a  Christian  minis- 
ter being  called  to  stand  forward  as  an  exam- 
ple to  his  flock — to  feel  himself  placed  in  a 
post  of  honour — a  post,  in  which  he  may  not 
only  glorify  God,  but  also  forcibly  demon 
strate  the  peculiar  supports  of  the  Gospel. 
More  especially,  when  this  could  be  done  (as 
in  his  own  case)  from  no  doubtful  motive  ; 
then,  it  may  be  expedient  to  leave  the  path 'of 
ordinary  custom,  for  the  greater  reason  of  < 
fribiting  both  the  doctrines  of  truth,  and  the 
•experience  of  their  power. 


156  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

Though  I  professedly  publish  none  of  Mr. 
N.'s  letters  for  reasons  hereafter  assigned,  yet 
I  shall  take  the  liberty  to  insert  part  of  one, 

with  which  I  am  favoured  by  J.  F ,  Esq. 

of  Stanmore  Hill,  written  to  him  while  at 
Rome,  and  dated  December  5th,  1796.  It 
shews  the  interest  which  the  writer  took  in  the 
safety  of  his  friend,  and  his  address  in  attempt- 
ing to  break  the  enchantments  with  which  men 
of  taste  are  surrounded,  when  standing  in  the 
centre  of  the  fine  arts. 

"  The  true  Christian,  in  strict  propriety  of 
speech,  has  no  home  here  ;  he  is,  and  must  be, 
a  stranger  and  a  pilgrim  upon  earth  :  his  citi- 
zenship, treasure,  and  real  home  are  in  a  bet- 
ter world  ;  and  every  step  he  takes,  whether 
to  the  east,  or  to  the  west,  is  a  step  nearer  to 
his  Father's  house. — On  the  other  hand,  when 
in  the  path  of  duty,  he  is  always  at  home  ;  for 
the  whole  earth  is  the  Lord's :  and  as  we  see 
the  same  sun  in  England  or  Italy,  in  Europe 
or  Asia,  so  wherever  he  is,  he  equally  sets  the 
liord  always  before  him ;  and  finds  himself 
equally  near  the  throne  of  grace  at  all  times, 
and  in  all  places. — God  is  every  where,  and 
by  faith  in  the  Great  Mediator,  he  dwells  in 
God,  and  God  in  him ;  to  him  that  line  of 
Horace  may  be  applied  in  the  best  sense, 


REV.  JOHN    NEWTON. 
4  Caelum,  non  animum  mutant,  qui  tvans  marc  currunt/ 

"  1  trust,  my  dear  Sir,  that  you  will  carry 
out  and  bring  home  with  you,  a  determination 
similar  to  that  of  the  patriarch  Jacob ;  who 
vowed  a  vow,  saying,   i  If  God  will  be  with 

*  me,  and  will  keep  me  in  the  way  that  I  go, 

*  and  will  give  me  bread  to  eat,  and  raiment  to 
i  put  on,  so  that  I  come  again  to  my  father's 
:  house  in  peace,  then  shall  the  Lord  be  my 

*  God  ! ' — May  the  Lord  himself  write  it  on 
your  heart ! 

"  You  are  now  at  Rome,  the  centre  of  the 
fine  arts  ;  a  place  abounding  with  every  thing 
to  gratify  a  person  of  your  taste.    Athens  had 
the  pre-eminence  in  the  Apostle  Paul's  time  y 
and  I  think  it  highly  probable,  from  many  pas- 
sages in  his  writings,  that  he  likewise  had  a 
taste  capable   of  admiring  and  relishing  the 
beauties  of  painting,  sculpture,  and  architec- 
ture, which  he  could  not  but  observe  during 
his  abode  in  that  city  :  but  then  he  had  a  high* 
er,  a  spiritual,  a  divine  taste,  which  was  greatly 
shocked  and  grieved  by  the  ignorance,  idolar 
try,  and  wickedness  which  surrounded  him? 
insomuch  that  he  could  attend  to  nothing  else. 
—This  taste,  which  cannot  be  acquired  by  ari| 
effort  or  study  of  ours,  but  is  freely  bestcmrfl 

O 


138 


MEMOIRS    OF    THE 


on  all  who  sincerely  ask  it  of  the  Lord,  divests 
the  vanities  which  the  world  admire,  of  their 
glare  ;  and  enables  us  to  judge  of  the  most 
splendid  and  specious  works  of  men  who  know 
not  God,  according  to  the  declaration  of  the 
prophet,  '  They  hatch  cockatrice  eggs,  and 
4  weave  the  spider's  web.' — Much  ingenuity  is 
displayed  in  the  weaving  of  a  cobweb,  but 
when  finished,  it  is  worthless  and  useless :  in- 
cubation requires  close  diligence  and  attention  : 
if  the  hen  is  too  long  from  her  nest,  the  egg  is 
spoiled  ;  but  why  should  she  sit  at  all  upon  the 
egg,  and  watch  it,  and  warm  it  night  and  day, 
if  it  only  produces  a  cockatrice  at  last  ?  Thus 
vanity  or  mischief  are  the  chief  rulers  of  un- 
sanctified  genius — the  artists  spin  webs,  and 
the  philosophers,  by  their  learned  speculations, 
hatch  cockatrices,  to  poison  themselves  and 
their  fellow-creatures  :  few7  of  either  sort  have 
one  serious  thought  of  that  awful  eternity, 
upon  the  brink  of  which  they  stand  for  a  while, 
and  into  the  depth  of  which  they  successively 

fall. 

"  A  part  of  the  sentence  denounced'against 
the  city  which  once  stood  upon  seven  hills,  is 
so  pointed  and  graphical,  that  I  must  trans- 
cribe it :  '  And  the  voice  of  harpers,  and  mu- 
•  sicians,  and  pipers,  and  trumpeters,  shall  be 


REV.  JOHN    NEWTON.  159 

c  heard  no  more  at  all  in  thee  ;  and  no  crafts - 
1  man,  of  whatsoever  craft  he  be,  shall  be  found 
4  any  more  in  thee,  and  the  light  of  a  candle 
'  shall  no  more  be  seen  in  thee.' — Now,  I  am 
informed  that  upon  certain  occasions,  the 
whole  cupola  of  St.  Peter's  is  covered  with 
lamps,  and  affords  a  very  magnificent  spectacle : 
if  I  saw  it,  it  would  remind  me  of  that  time 
when  there  will  not  be  the  shining  of  a  single 
candle  in  the  city  ;  for  the  sentence  must  be 
executed,  and  the  hour  may  be  approaching — 

'  Sic  transit  gloria  muncli  !' 

"  You  kindly  inquire  after  my  health  :  my- 
self and  family  are  through  the  divine  favour 
perfectly  wrell ;  yet,  healthy  as  I  am,  I  labour 
under  a  growing  disorder,  for  which  there  is 
no  cure  ;  I  mean  old  age.  I  am  not  sorry  it 
is  a  mortal  disease,  from  which  no  one  reco- 
vers ;  for  who  would  live  always  in  such  a 
world  as  this,  who  has  a  scriptural  hope  of  an 
inheritance  in  the  world  of  light  ?  I  am  now  in 
my  seventy-second  year,  and  seem  to  have 
lived  long  enough  for  myself;  I  have  known 
something  of  the  evil  of  life,  and  have  had  a 
large  share  of  the  good  :  I  know  what  the  world 
can  do,  and  what  it  cannot  do ;  it  can  neither 
give  nor  take  away  that  peace  of  God,  which 


160  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

passeth  all  understanding ;  it  cannot  soothe  a 
wounded  conscience,  nor  enable  us  to  meet 
death  with  comfort. — That  you,  my  dear  sir, 
may  have  an  abiding  and  abounding  experi- 
ence that  the  Gospel  is  a  catholicon,  adapted 
to  all  our  wants,  and  all  our  feelings,  and  a  suit- 
able help,  when  every  other  help  fails,  is  the 
sincere  and  ardent  prayer  of 

"  Your  affectionate  friend, 

"•  John  Newton." 

But  in  proportion  as  Mr.  N.  felt  the  vanity 
of  the  pursuits  he  endeavoured  to  expose  in 
the  foregoing  letter,  he  was  as  feelingly  alive 
to  whatever  regarded  eternal  concerns.  Take 
an  instance  of  this,  in  a  visit  which  he  paid  to 
another  friend.  This  friend  was  a  minister, 
who  affected  great  accuracy  in  his  discourses, 
and  who,  on  that  Sunday,  had  nearly  occupied 
an  hour  in  insisting  on  several  laboured  and 
nice  distinctions  made  in  his  subject*  As  he 
had  a  high  estimation  of  Mr.  N.'s  judgment, 
he  inquired  of  him,  as  they  walked  home,  whe- 
ther he  thought  the  distinctions  just  now  in- 
sisted on  were  full  and  judicious  ?  Mr.  N. 
said  he  thought  them  not  full,  as  a  very  import- 
ant one  had  been  omitted. — "  What  can  that 
be  ?"  said  the  minister,  "  for  I  had  taken  more 


»£V.    JOHN     NEWTON.  16J 

than  ordinary  care  to  enumerate  them  fully." — 
N  I  think  not,"  replied  Mr.  N.  "  for  when 
many  of  your  congregation  had  travelled  seve- 
ral miles  for  a  meal,  I  think  you  should  not 
have  forgotten  the  important  distinction  which 
must  ever  exist  between  meat  and  bones." 

In  the  year  1799,  Mr.  N.  had  the  honorary 
degree  of  D.  D.  conferred  upon  him  by  the  uni- 
versity of  New  Jersey  in  America,  and  the  Di- 
ploma sent  him.  He  also  received  a  work  in 
two  volumes,  dedicated  to  him  with  the  above 
title  annexed  to  his  name.  Mr.  N.  wrote  the 
author  a  grateful  acknowledgment  for  the 
work,  but  begged  to  decline  an  honour  which 
he  never  intended  to  accept.  "  I  am,"  said 
he,  "  as  one  born  out  of  due  time.  I  have 
neither  the  pretension,  nor  wish  to  honours  of 
this  kind.  However,  therefore,  the  university 
may  over-rate  my  attainments,  and  thus  shew 
their  respect.  I  must  not  forget  myself;  it 
would  be  both  vain  and  improper  were  I  to 
concur  in  it." 

But  Mr.  N.  had  yet  another  storm  to  wea- 
ther. While  we  were  contemplating  the  long 
and  rough  voyage  he  had  passed,  and  thought 
he  had  only  now  to  rest  in  a  quiet  haven,  and 
with  a  fine  sunsetting  at  the  close  of  the  even- 
ing of  his  life ;  clouds  began  to  gather  again., 
02  • 


462  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

and  seemed  to  threaten  a  wreck  at  the  very  en- 
try of  the  port.     He  used  to  make  excursions 
in  the  summer  to  different  friends  in  the  coun- 
try, endeavouring  to  make  these  visits  profita- 
ble to  them  and  their  neighbours,  by  his  con- 
tinual prayers,  and  the  expositions  he  gave  of 
the  scriptures  read  at  their  morning  and  even- 
ing worship.     I  have  heard  of  some  who  were 
first  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  themselves 
and  of  God  by  attending  his  exhortations  on 
these  occasions ;  for,  indeed,  besides  what  he 
undertook  in  a  more  stated  way  at  the  church, 
fie  seldom  entered  a  room,  but  something  both 
profitable  and  entertaining  fell  from  his  lips. 
After  the  death  of  Miss  Cunningham,  and  Mrs. 
N.  his  companion  in  these  summer  excursions 
was  his  other  niece  Miss  Elizabeth  Catlett. 
This  young  lady  had  also  been  brought  up  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  with  Miss  Cunningham,  and 
on  the  death  of  the  two  latter,  she  became  the 
object  of  Mr.  N.'s  naturally  affectionate  dispo- 
sition.    She  also  became  quite  necessary  to 
tlim  by  her  administrations  in  his  latter  years ; 
she  watched  him,   walked  with  him,  visited 
wherever  he  went ;  when  his  sight  failed,  she 
re^d  to  him,  divided  his  food,  and  was  unto 
Mm  all  that  a  dutiful  daughter  could  be, 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  163 

But  in  the  year  1801,  a  nervous  disorder 
seized  her,  by  which  Mr.  N.  was  obliged  to 
submit  to  her  being  separated  from  him.  Dur- 
ing the  twelvemonth  it  lasted,  the  weight  of 
the  affliction  added  to  his  weight  of  years, 
seemed  to  overwhelm  him.  I  extracted  a  f 
of  his  reflections  on  the  occasion  written  on 
some  blank  leaves  in  an  edition  of  his  Letters 
to  a  Wife,  which  he  lent  me  on  my  undertak- 
ing these  memoirs,  and  have  subjoined  them 
in  the  note  (G.) — It  may  give  the  reader  plea- 
sure to  be  informed  that  Miss  Catlett  returned 
home  ;  gradually  recovered ;  and  afterwards 
married  a  worthy  man  of  the  name  of  Smith. 

It  was  with  a  mixture  of  delight  and  sur- 
prise, that  the  friends  and  hearers  of  this  emi- 
nent servant  of  God  beheld  him  bringing  forth 
such  a  measure  of  fruit  in  extreme  age.  Though 
then  almost  eighty  years  old,  his  sight  near- 
ly gone,  and  incapable,  through  deafness^ 
of  joining  in  conversation ;  yet  his  public 
ministry  was  regularly  continued,  and  main- 
tained with  a  considerable  degree  of  his  former 
animation.  His  memory,  indeed,  was  observed 
to  fail,  but  his  judgment  in  divine  things  still 
remained;  and,  though  some  depression  of 
spirits  wras  observed,  which  he  used  to  account 
for  from  his  advanced  age,   his  perception; 


164.  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

taste,  and  zeal  for  the  truths  he  had  long  re- 
ceived and  taught,  were  evident.  Like  Simeon, 
having  seen  the  salvation  of  the  Lord,  he  now 
only  waited  and  prayed  to  depart  in  peace. 

After  M.  N.  was  turned  of  eighty,  some  of 
his  friends  feare^  he  might  continue  his  public 
ministrations  too  long ;  they  marked  not  only 
his  infirmities  in  the  pulpit,  but  felt  much  on 
account  of  the  decrease  of  his  strength  and  of 
his  occasional  depressions.  Conversing  with 
him  in  Jan.  1806  on  the  latter,  he  observed, 
that  he  had  experienced  nothing  which  in  the 
least  affected  the  principles  he  had  felt  and 
taught — that  his  depressions  were  the  natural 
result  of  fourscore  years,  and  that,  at  any  age, 
we  can  only  enjoy  that  comfort  from  our  prin- 
ciples which  God  is  pleased  to  send.  "  But," 
replied  I,  -"  in  the  article  of  public  preaching, 
might  it  not  be  best  to  consider  your  work  as 
done,  and  stop  before  you  evidently  discover 
you  can  speak  no  longer  ?"— "  I  cannot  stop," 
said  he,  raising  his  voice, — "  What,  shall  the 
old  African  blasphemer  stop  while  he  can 
speak?" 

In  every  future  visit  I  perceived  old  age 
making  rapid  strides.  At  length  his  friends 
found  some  difficulty  in  making  themselves 
known  to  him  :  his  sight,  his  hearing,  and  his 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTONT.  165 

recollection  exceedingly  failed ;  but,  being 
mercifully  kept  from  pain,  he  generally  appear- 
ed easy  and  cheerful.  Whatever  he  uttered 
was  perfectly  consistent  with  the  principles  he 
had  so  long,  and  so  honourably  maintained. 
Calling  to  see  him  a  few  days  before  he  died, 
with  one  of  his  most  intimate  friends,  we  could 
not  make  him  recollect  either  of  us  ;  but  see* 
ing  him  afterwards  when  sitting  up  in  his  chair, 
I  found  so  much  intellect  remaining,  as  pro- 
duced a  short  and  affectionate  reply,  though  he 
was  utterly  incapable  of  conversation. 

Mr.  N.  declined  in  this  very  gradual  way, 
till  at  length  it  was  painful  to  ask  him  a  ques- 
tion, or  attempt  to  rouse  faculties  almost  gone  ; 
still  his  friends  were  anxious  to  get  a  word 
from  him,  and  those  friends  who  survive  him 
will  be  as  anxious  to  learn  the  state  of  his 
mind  in  Iris  latest  hours. — It  is  quite  natural 
thus  to  inquire,  though  it  is  not  important  how 
such  a  decided  character  left  this  world.  I 
have  heard  Mr.  N.  say  when  he  has  heard  par- 
ticular inquiry  made  about  the  last  expressions 
of  an  eminent  believer,  "  Tell  me  not  how  the 
man  died,  but  how  he  lived." 

Still  I  say  it  is  natural  to  inquire,  and  I  will 
meet  the  desire,  (not  by  trying  to  expand  un- 
interesting particulars,  but)  as  for  as  I  can  col 


166  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

lect  encouraging  faets :  and  I  learn  from  a  pa* 
per,  kindly  sent  me  by  his  family,  all  that  is 
interesting  and  authentic. 

About  a  month  before  Mr.  N.'s  death,  Mr. 
Smith's  niece  was  sitting  by  him,  to  whom  he 
said,  "  It  is  a  great  thing  to  die ;  and  when 
flesh  and  heart  fail,  to  have  God  for  the  strength 
of  our  heart,  and  our  portion  for  ever — I  know 
whom  I  have  believed,  and  he  is  able  to  keep 
that  which  I  have  committed,  against  that  great 
day.  Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a 
crown  of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the 
righteous  judge,  shall  give  me  at  that  day." 

When  Mrs.  Smith  came  into  the  room,  he 
said,  "  I  have  been  meditating  on  a  subject, 
c  Come,  and  hear  all  ye  that  fear  God,  and  I 
'  will  declare  what  he  hath  done  for  my  soul.'  v 

At  another  time  he  said,  "  More  light,  more 
love,  more  liberty — Hereafter  I  hope  when  I 
shut  my  eyes  on  the  things  of  time,  I  shall 
open  them  in  a  better  world.  What  a  thing  it 
is  to  live  under  the  shadow  of  the  wings  of  the 
Almighty  ! — I  am  going  the  way  of  all  flesh." 
And  when  one  repleid,  "  The  Lord  is  gra- 
cious," he  answered,  "  If  it  were  not  so,  how 
could  I  dare  to  stand  before  him  ?" 

The  Wednesday  before  he  died,  Mrs.  G— 


REV.    JOHN' NEWTON.  167 

asked  him,   if  his  mind  was  comfortable*?  he 
replied,  "  I  am  satisfied  with  the  Lord's  Will." 

Mr.  N.  seemed  sensible  to  his  last  hour, 
but  expressed  nothing  remarkable  after  th< 
words.  He  departed  on  the  21st,  and  was 
buried  in  the  vault  of  his  church  the  31st  oi 
December  1807,  having  left  the  following: 
injunction  in  a  letter  for  the  direction  of  his 
executors* 

"  I  propose  writing  an  epitaph  for  myself, 
if  it  may  be  put  up,  on  a  plain,  marble  tablet, 
near -the  vestry  door,  to  the  following  purport- 


168  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

JOHN  NEWTON,  Clerk, 

Once  an  Infidel  and  Libertine, 

A  servant  of  slaves  in  Africa, 

Was,  by  the  rich  mercy  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 

JESUS  CHRIST, 

Preserved,  restored,  pardoned, 

And  appointed  to  preach  the  Faith 

He  had  long  laboured  to  destroy, 

Near  16  years  at  Olney  in  Bucks  ; 

And  ....  years  in  this  church. 


On  Feb.  1,  1750,  he  married 

r  MARY, 

.Daughter  of  the  late  George  Catlett 

Of  Chatham,  Kent. 

He  resigned  her  to  the  Lord  who  gave  her 

On  15th  December  1790. 


And  I  earnestly  desire  that  no  other  monu- 
ment, and  no  inscription  but  to  this  purport, 
may  be  attempted  for  me." 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  exordium  of 
Mr.  Newton's  will,  dated  June  13,  1803: 


REV.   JOHN     NEWTON.  169 

il  In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  I  John 
Newton  of  Coleman  Street  Buildings  in  the 
parish  of  St.  Stephen  Coleman  Street,  in  the 
city  of  London,  Clerk,  being  through  mei 
in  good  health,  and  of  sound  and  disposing 
mind,  memory,  and  understanding,  although 
in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  my  age,  do  for 
the  settling  of  my  temporal  concerns,  and  for 
the  disposal  of  all  the  worldly  estate  which  it 
hath  pleased  the  Lord  in  his  good  providence 
to  give  me,  make  this  my  last  Will  and  Tes- 
tament as  follows.  I  commit  my  soul  to  my 
gracious  God  and  Saviour,  who  mercifully 
spared  and  preserved  me,  when  I  was  an  Apos- 
tate, a  Blasphemer,  and  an  Infidel,  and  deliver- 
ed me  from  that  state  of  misery  on  the  coast 
of  Africa  into  which  my  obstinate  wickedness 
had  plunged  me  ;  and  who  has  been  pleased 
to  admit  me  (though  most  unworthy)  to  preach 
his  Glorious  Gospel.  I  rely  with  humble  con- 
fidence upon  the  atonement,  and  mediation  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  God  and  Man,  which  1 
have  often  proposed  to  others  as  the  only  foun- 
dation whereon  a  sinner  can  build  his  hope  ; 
trusting  that  he  will  guard  and  guide  mc 
through  the  uncertain  remainder  of  my  life, 
and  that  he  will  then  admit  me  into  his  pre- 
sence in  his  Heavenly  Kingdom.     I   would 


170  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

have  my  body  deposited  in  the  vault  under  the 
Parish  Church  of  Saint  Mary  Woolnoth,  close 
to  the  coffins  of  my  late  dear  wife  and  my  dear 
niece  Elizabeth  Cunningham  ;  and  it  is  my  de- 
sire that  my  funeral  may  be  performed  with 
as  little  expence  as  possible,  consistent  with 
decency*'5 


.    JOHNttEWTO  171 


N  O  T  E  S, 

Extracted  from  Mr.  Newton's  MS.  in  cm  in- 
terleaved Copy  of  his  Letters  to  a  Wife,  and 
from  Ins  Diary. 


A,  p.  79.)  First  voyage  to  Africa,  1750.  He 
had  written  to  Mrs.  Newton  from  St.  Albans,  in  which 
he  inserts  a  prayer  for  the  health  of  himself  and  Mrs. 
N.  upon  which  he  says,  "  This  prayer  includes  all  that 
I  at  that  time  knew  how  to  ask  for,  and  had  not  the  Lord 
given  me  more  than  I  then  knew  how  to  ask  or  think,  I 
should  now  be  completely  miserable.  The  prospect  of 
this  separation  was  terrible  to  me  as  death  :  to  avoid  it, 
I  repeatedly  purchased  a  ticket  in  the  lottery,  thinking, 
who  knows  but  I  may  obtain  a  considerable  prize,  and 
be  thereby  saved  from  the  necessity  of  going  to  sea  ? 
'k  Happy  for  me,  the  lot  which  I  then  considered  as  ca- 
sual, was  at  thy  disposal.  The  money,  which  I  could  not 
with  prudence  have  spared  at  the  time,  was  lost ;  all  my 
tickets  proved  blanks,  though  I  attempted  to  bribe  thee 
by  promising,  if  I  succeeded,  to  give  a  considerable  part 
to  the  poor.  But  these  blanks  were  truly  prizes.  Thy 
mercy  sent  me  to  sea  against  my  own  will.  To  thy 
blessing,  and  to  my  solitary  sea  hours,  I  was  indebted 
for  all  my  temporal  comforts,  and  future  hopes. 

u  Thou  wert  pleased  likewise  to  disappoint  me  by  thy 
providence  of  some  money  which  I  expected  to  receive 
•fl  my  marriage  ;   so  that,  excepting  our  apparel,  when 


172  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

1  sailed  from  Liverpool  on  my  first  voyage,  the  sum 
total  of  my  worldly  inventory  was  seventy  pounds  in 
debt." 

(B,  p.  79.)  I  have  heard  Mr.  Newton  observe,  that 
as  the  commander  of  a  slave-ship,  he  had  a  number  of 
women  under  his  absolute  command  :  and  knowing  the 
danger  of  his  situation  on  that  account,  he  resolved  to 
abstain  from  flesh  in  his  food  and  to  drink  nothing 
stronger  than  water  during  the  voyage  ;  that  by  abste- 
miousness he  might  subdue  every  improper  emotion  ; 
and  that  upon  his  setting  sail,  the  sight  of  a  certain  point 
of  land,  was  the  signal  for  his  beginning  a  rule  which  he 
was  enabled  to  keep. 

(C,  p.  82.)  Mr.  N.  had  an  unexpected  call  to  Lon- 
don, and  on  his  return,  when  within  a  few  miles  of  Li- 
verpool, he  mistook  a  marle-pit  for  a  pond,  and  in  at- 
tempting to  water  his  horse,  both  the  horse  and  the  rider 
plunged  in  it  overhead.  He  was  afterwards  told,  that 
near  that  time,  three  persons  had  lost  their  lives  by  a 
mistake  of  the  same  kind. 

(D,  p.  90.)  Third  voyage  to  Africa,  1754.  In  a 
MS.  note  on  a  letter  from  sea,  in  the  above  copy,  he  re-* 
marks, — "  I  now  enter  my  70th  year  :  still  Thou  art 
singularly  bountiful  to  me  ;  still  I  have  reason  to  think 
myself  favoured  as  to  externals,  beyond  the  common  lot 
of  mortals.  Thou  didst  bear  me  above  the  removal  of 
her  I  most  valued,  to  the  admiration  of  all  who  knew 
me.  The  best  part  of  my  childhood  and  youth  was 
vanity  and  folly  ;  but  before  I  attained  the  age  of  man, 
I  became  exceeding  vile  indeed,  and  was  seated  in  the 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTON.  |  173 

chair  of  the  scorner  in  early  life.  The  troubles  and  mi- 
series I  for  a  time  endured,  were  my  own.  I  brought 
them  upon  myself  by  forsaking  thy  good  and  pleasant 
paths,  and  choosing  the  way  of  transgressors,  which  I 
found  very  hard  ;  they  led  to  slavery,  contempt,  famine, 
*nd  despair. 

"  But  my  recovery  from  that  dreadful  state  was  whol- 
ly of  thee.  Thou  didst  prepare  the  means  unthought 
of,  and  unde sired  by  me.  How  nice  were  the  turns  up- 
on which  my  delivery  from  Africa  depended  !  Had  the 
ship  passed  one  quarter  of  an  hour  sooner,  I  had  died 
there  a  wretch  as  I  had  lived.  But  thou  didst  pity  and 
hear  my  first  lispings  in  prayer,  at  the  time  the  storm 
fell  upon  me.  Thou  didst  preserve  me  from  sinking 
and  starving.  Thus  I  returned  home,  and  thou  didst 
provide  mt  friends  when  I  was  destitute,  and  a  stran- 
ger." 

(E,  p.  130.)  "  Thou  didst  support  me  and  make  this 
operation  very  tolerable.  ^The  cure,  by  thy  blessing, 
was  happily  expedited  :   so  that  on  Sunday  the  27th,  I 

was  enabled  to  go  to  church  and  hear  Mr.  F ,  and 

the  Sunday  following,  to  preach  for  him.  The  tender- 
ness and  attention  of  Dr.  aid  Mrs.  F ,   with  whom 

we  were,  I  cannot  sufficiently  describe  ;  nor,  indeed,  the 
kindness  of  many  other  friends.  To  them  I  would  be 
thankful,  my  Lord,  but  especially  to  Thee  ;  for  what 
are  creatures  but  instruments  in  thy  hand,  fulfilling  thy 
pleasure  ?  At  home  all  was  preserved  quiet,  and  I  met 
with  no  incident  to  distress  or  disturb  me  while  absent. 
The  last  fortnight  I  preached  often,  and  was  hurried 
about  in  seeing  my  friends.  But  though  I  had  little  Lei- 
sure or  opportunity  for  retirement,  and  my  heart,  alas, 
P  2 


174  MEMOIRS  OF   THE 

as  usual,  sadly  reluctant  and  dull  in  secret,  yet  in  public 
thou  wert  pleased  to  favour  me  with  liberty." 

(F,  p.  161.)  In  another  MS.  note,  dated  15th  Decem- 
ber, 1797,  on  a  letter  in  the  above  collection,  he  writes, 
"  Though  I  am  not  so  sensibly  affected  as  I  could  wish, 
I  hope  I  am  truly  affected  by  the  frequent  reviews  I 
make  of  my  past  life.  Perhaps  the  annals  of  thy  church 
scarcely  afford  an  instance  in  all  respects  so  singular. 
Perhaps  thy  grace  may  have  recovered  some  from  an 
equal  degree  of  apostacy,  infidelity,  and  profligacy  ;  but 
few  of  them  have  been  redeemed  from  such  a  state  of 
misery  and  depression  as  I  was  in,  upon  the  coast  of  Af- 
rica, when  thy  unsought  mercy  wrought  for  my  deliver- 
ance :  but  that  such  a  wretch  should  not  only  be  spared 
and  pardoned,  but  reserved  to  the  honour  of  preaching 
thy  Gospel,  which  he  had  blasphemed  and  renounced, 
and  at  length  be  placed  in  a  very  public  situation,  and 
favoured  with  acceptance  and  usefulness,  both  from  the 
pulpit  and  the  press  ;  so  that  my  poor  name  is  known 
in  most  parts  of  the  world,  where  there  are  any  who 
know  thee — this  is  wonderful  indeed  ! — The  more 
thou  hast  exalted  me,  the  more  I  ought  to  abase  my- 
self." 

(G,  p.  2.  163.)  August  1st,  1801.  "  I  now  enter  my 
77th  year.  I  have  been  exercised  this  year  with  a  try- 
ing and  unexpected  change  :  but  it  is  by  thy  appoint- 
ment, my  gracious  Lord ;  and  thou  art  unchangeably 
wise,  good,  and  merciful.  Thou  gavest  me  my  dear 
adopted  child.  Thou  didst  own  my  endeavours  to 
bring  her  up  for  thee.  I  have  no  doubt  that  thou  hast 
called  her  by  thy  grace.     I  thank  thee  for  the  many 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTON.  175 

years  comfort  (ten)  I  have  had  in  her,  and  for  the  atten- 
tion and  affection  she  has  always  shewn  me,  exceeding 
that  of  most  daughters  to  their  own  parents.  Thou 
hast  now  tried  me,  as  thou  didst  Abraham,  in  my  old 
age  ;  when  my  eyes  are  failing,  and  my  strength  de- 
clines. Thou  hast  called  for  my  Isaac,  who  had  so  long 
been  my  chief  stay  and  staff,  but  it  was  thy  blessing  that 
made  her  so.  A  nervous  disorder  has  seized  her,  and  I 
desire  to  leave  her  under  thy  care  ;  and  chiefly  pray  for 
myself,  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  wait  thy  time  and  will, 
without  betraying  any  signs  of  impatience,  or  despon- 
dency unbecoming  my  profession  a.nd  character.  Hi- 
therto thou  hast  helped  me;  and  to  thee  I  look  for  help 
in  future.  Let  all  issue  in  thy  glory,  that  my  friends 
and  hearers  may  be  encouraged  by  seeing  how  I  am 
supported  ;  let  thy  strength  be  manifested  in  my  weak- 
ness, and  thy  grace  be  sufficient  for  me,  and  let  all  final- 
ly work  together  for  our  good,  Amen.  I  aim  to  say 
from  my  heart,  not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done.  But 
though  thou  hast  in  a  measure  made  my  spirit  willing, 
thou  knowest,  and  I  feel,  that  the  flesh  is  weak.  Lord, 
I  believe,  help  thou  my  unbelief.  Lord,  I  submit,  sub- 
due every  rebellious  thought  that  dares  arise  against 
thy  will.  Spare  my  eyes,  if  it  please  thee  ;  but,  above 
all,  strengthen  my  faith  and  love." 


177 


REVIEW 


OF 


MR.  NEWTON'S  CHARACTER. 


The  he  seems  to  be  little  need  of  giving  a  gen- 
eral character  of  Mr.  N.  after  the  particulars 
which  appear  in  the  foregoing  Memoirs.  He 
unquestionably  was  the  child  of  a  peculiar  pro- 
vidence in  every  step  of  his  progress  ;  and  his 
deep  sense  of  the  extraordinary  dispensation 
through  which  he  had  passed,  was  the  promU 
nent  topic  in  his  conversation.  Those  who 
personally  knew  the  man,  could  have  no  doubt 
of  the  probity  with  which  his  Narrative  (sin- 
gular as  it  may  appear)  was  written.  They 
however,  who  could  not  view  the  subject  of 
these  Memoirs  so  nearly  as  his  particular 
friends  did,  may  wish  to  learn  something  fur- 
ther of  his  character  with  respect  to  his  literary 
attainments — his  ministry — his  family  habits— - 
his  writings — and  his  familiar  conversation, 


178  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

Of  his  literature,  we  learn  from  his  Narra- 
tive what  he  attained  in  the  learned  languages, 
and  that  by  almost  incredible  efforts.  Few 
men  have  undertaken  such  difficulties  under 
such  disadvantages.  It,  therefore,  seems  more 
extraordinary  that  he  should  have  attained  so 
much,  than  that  he  should  not  have  acquired 
more.  ,  Nor  did  he  quit  his  pursuits  of  this 
kind,  but  in  order  to  gain  that  knowledge 
which  he  deemed  much  more  important.  What- 
ever he  conceived  had  a  tendency  to  qualify 
him,  as  a  scribe  well  instructed  in  the  kingdom 
of  God,  bringing  out  of  his  treasury  things 
new  and  old — I  say,  in  pursuit  of  this  point, 
he  might  have  adopted  the  apostle's  expres- 
sion, "  One  thing  I  do."  By  a  principle  so 
simply  and  firmly  directed,  he  furnished  his 
mind  with  much  information  :  he  had  consult- 
ed the  best  old  divines — had  read  the  moderns 
of  reputation  with  avidity  ;  and  was  continually 
watching  whatever  might  serve  for  analogies 
or  illustrations,  in  the  service  of  religion.  "  A 
minister,"  he  used  to  say,  "  wherever  he  is, 
should  be  always  in  his  study.  He  should 
look  at  every  man,  and  at  every  thing,  as  ca 
pable  of  affording  him  some  instruction." — 
His  mind,  therefore,  was  ever  intent  on  his 
calling — ever  extracting  something,  even  from 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  179 

the  basest  materials,  which  he  could  turn  i 
gold. 

In  consequence  of  this  incessant  attention  to 
this  object,  while  many  (whose  early  advanta- 
ges greatly  exceeded  his)  were  found  excel- 
ling Mr.  N.  in  the  knowledge  and  investiga- 
tion of  some  curious,  abstract,  but  very  unim- 
portant points  ;  he  was  found  vastly  excelling 
them  in  points  of  infinitely  higher  importance 
to  man. — In  the  knowledge  of  God,  of  hi§ 
word,  and  of  the  human  heart  in  its  wants  and 
resources,  Newton  would  have  stood  among 
mere  scholars,  as  his  name-sake  the  philosopher 
stood  in  science  among  ordinary  men.  I  might 
say  the  same  of  some  others  who  have  set  out 
late  in  the  profession,  but  who,  with  a  portion 
of  Mr.  N.'s  piety  and  ardour,  have  greatly  out- 
stripped those  who  have  had  every  early  ad- 
vantage and  encouragement : — men  with  spe- 
cious titles  and  high  connexions  have  received 
the  rewards ;  while  men,  like  Newton,  with- 
out them,  have  done  the  work. 

With  respect  to  his  ministry,  he  appeared, 
perhaps,  to  least  advantage  in  the  pulpit ;  as  he 
did  not  generally  aim  at  accuracy,  in  the 
Composition  of  his  sermons,  nor  at  any  address 
in  the  delivery  of  them.  His  utterance  was 
■far  from  clear,  and  his  attitudes  ungraceful. 


180  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

He  possessed,  however,  so  much  affection  for 
F  his  people,  and  zeal  for  their  best  interests, 
that  the  defect  of  his  manner  was  of  little  con- 
sideration with  his  constant  hearers :  at  the 
same  time,  his  capacity  and  habit  of  entering 
into  their  trials  and  experience,  gave  the  high- 
est interest  to  his  ministry  among  them.  Be- 
sides which,  he  frequently  interspersed  the 
most  brilliant  allusions,  and  brought  for- 
ward  such  happy  illustrations  of  his  subject, 
and  those  with  so  much  unction  on  his  own 
heart,  as  melted  and  enlarged  theirs.  The 
parent- like  tenderness  and  affection  which  ac- 
companied his  instruction,  made  them  prefer 
him  to  preachers  who,  on  other  accounts,  were 
much  more  generally  popular.  It  ought  also 
to  be  noted,  that,  amidst  the  extravagant  no- 
tions and  unscriptural  positions  which  have 
sometimes  disgraced  the  religious  world,  Mr. 
N.  never  departed,  in  any  instance,  from 
soundly  and  seriously  promulgating  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints,  of  which  his  writ- 
ings will  remain  the  best  evidence.  His  doc- 
trine was  strictly  that  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land, urged  on  the  consciences  of  men  in  the 
most  practical  and  experimental  manner.  "  I 
hope,"  said  he  one  day  to  me,  smiling,  "  I 
hope  I  am  upon  the  whole  a  scriptural  preach- 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  18 J 

er ;  for  I  find  I  am  considered  as  an  Arminian 
among  the  high  Calvinists,  and  as  a  Calvinisi 
among  the  strenuous  Arminians." 

I  never  observed  any  thing  like  bigotry  in 
his  ministerial  character,  though  he  seemed  at 
all  times  to  appreciate  the  beauty  of  order,  and 
its  good  effects  in  the  ministry.  He  had  for 
merly  been  intimately  connected  with  some 
highly  respectable  ministers  among  the  dis- 
senters, and  retained  a  cordial  regard  for  many 
to  the  last.  He  considered  the  strong  preju- 
dices which  attach  to  both  churchmen  and  dis 
senters,  arising  more  from  education  than  from 
principle.  But,  being  himself  both  a  clergy- 
man arid  an  incumbent  in  the  church  of  Eng- 
land, he  wished  to  be  consistent.  In  publio, 
therefore,  he  felt  he  could  not  act  with  some 
ministers,  whom  he  thought  truly  good  men, 
and  to  whom  he  cordially  wished  success  ia 
their  endeavours ;  and  he  patiently  met  the 
consequence.  They  called  him  a  bigot,  and 
he  in  return  prayed  for  them,  that  they  might 
not  be  really  such. 

He  had  formerly  taken  much  pains  in  com- 
posing his  sermons,  as  I  could  perceive  in  one 
MS.  which  I  looked  through ;  and  even  latter- 
ly, I  have  known  him,  whenever  he  felt  it  ne- 
cessary, produce  admirable  plans  for  the  pui 

Q 


182  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

pit.  I  own  I  thought  his  judgment  deficient 
in  not  deeming  such  preparation  necessary  at 
all  times.  I  have  sat  in  pain  when  he  has  spo- 
ken unguardedly  in  this  way  before  young 
ministers ;  men  who,  with  but  comparatively 
slight  degrees  of  his  information  and  experi- 
ence, would  draw  encouragement  to  ascend 
the  pulpit  with  but  little  previous  study  of  their 
subject.  A  minister  is  not  to  be  blamed,  who 
cannot  rise  to  qualifications  which  some  of  his 
brethren  have  attained ;  but  he  is  certainly 
bound  to  improve  his  own  talent  to  the  utmost 
of  his  power  :  he  is  not  to  cover  his  sloth,  his 
love  of  company,  or  his  disposition  to  attend  a 
wealthy  patron,  with  the  pretence  of  depending 
entirely  on  divine  influence.  Timothy  had  at 
least  as  good  ground  for  expecting  such  influ- 
ence, as  any  of  his  successors  in  the  ministry ; 
and  yet  the  apostle  admonishes  him  to  give  at- 
tendance to  reading,  to  exhortation,  and  t$ 
doctrine — to  neglect  not  the  gift  that  was  ift 
him — to  meditate  upon  these  things — to  give 
himself  wholly  to  them,  that  his  profiting  might 
appear  to  all. 

Mr.  N.  regularly  preached  on  the  Sunday 
morning  and  evening  at  St.  Mary  Woolnoth, 
and  also  on  the  Wednesday  morning.  After 
he  was  turned  of  seventy  he  often  undertook 


REV,   JOHN    NEWTON.  183 

r 

to  assist  other  clergymen  ;  sometimes,  even  to 
the  preaching  six  sermons  in  the  space  of  a 
week.  What  was  more  extraordinary,  he  con- 
tinued his  usual  course  of  preaching  at  his 
own  church  after  hf  bursccftre  years  old, 

and  that,  when  he  could  no  longer  see  to  i\ 
his  text !  His  memory  and  voice  sometimes 
failed  him,  but  it  was  remarked,  that,  at  this 
great  age,  he  was  no  where  more  recollected  or 
lively  than  in  the  pulpit.  He  was  punctual  as 
to  time  with  his  congregation;  and  preached 
every  first  Sunday  evening  in  the  month  on 
relative  duties.  Mr.  Alderman  Lea  regularly 
sent  his  carriage  to  convey  him  to  civ  n  oh,  and 
Mr.  Bates  sent  his  servant  to  attend  him  in  the 
pulpit ;  which  friendly  assistance  was  continu- 
ed till  Mr.  N.  could  appear  no  longer  in  pub- 
lic. 

His  ministerial  visits  were  exemplary.  I  do 
not  recollect  one,  though  favoured  wkh  many, 
in  which  his  general  information  and  lively 
genius  did  not  communicate  instruction,  and 
his  affectionate  and  condescending  sympathy 
did  not  leave  comfort. 

Truth  demands  it  should  be  said,  that  he 
did  not  always  administer  consolation,  nor 
give  an  account  of  characters,  with  sufficient 
discrimination.     His  talent  did  not  lie  in  dis- 


184  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

cerning  of  spirits.  I  never  saw  him  so  much 
moved  as  when  any  friend  endeavoured  to  cor- 
rect his  errors  in  this  respect.  His  credulity 
seemed  to  arise  from  the  consciousness  he  had 
of  his  own  integrity,  and  from  that  sort  of  pa- 
rental fondness  which  he  bore  to  all  his  friends, 
real  or  pretended.  I  knew  one,  since  dead, 
whom  he  thus  described,  while  living — "  He 
is  certainly  an  old  man,  and  has  his  failings ; 
but  he  has  great  integrity,  and  I  hope  is  going 
to  heaven."  Whereas  almost  all  who  knew 
him  thought  the  man  should  go  first  into  the 
pillory ! 

In  his  family  Mr.  N.  might  be  admired 
more  safely,  than  imitated.  His  excessive  at- 
tachment to  Mrs.  N.  is  so  fully  displayed  in  his 
Narrative,  and  confirmed  in  the  two  volumes 
he  thought  it  proper  to  publish,  entitled,  Let- 
ters to  a  Wife,  that  the  reader  will  need  no  in- 
formation on  this  subject. — Some  of  his  friends 
wished  this  violent  attachment  had  been  cast 
more  into  the  shade,  as  tending  to  furnish  a 
spur,  where  human  nature  generally  needs  a 
curb.  He  used,  indeed,  to  speak  of  such  at- 
tachments in  the  abstract,  as  idolatry  ;  though 
his  own  was  providentially  ordered  to  be  the 
main  hinge  on  which  his  preservation  and  de- 
liverance  turned,    while  in   his   worst  state. 


REV.  JOHN    NEWTON.  185 

Good  men,  however,  cannot  be  too  cautious 
how  they  give  sanction  by  their  expressions  or 
example,  to  a  passion  which,  when  not  under 
sober  regulation,  has  overwhelmed  not  only 
families,  but  states,  with  disgrace  and  ruin. 

With  this  unusual  degree  of  benevolence 
and  affection,  it  was  not  extraordinary  that  the 
spiritual  interests  of  his  servants  were  brought 
forward,  and  examined  severally  every  Sunday 
afternoon  ;  and  that  being  treated  like  children, 
they  should  grow  old  in  his  service.  In  short, 
Mr.  N.  could  live  no  longer  than  he  could 
love ;  it  is  no  wonder,  therefore,  if  his  nieces 
had  more  of  his  heart  than  is  generally  afford- 
ed to. their  own  children  by  the  fondest  parents. 
It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  his  house 
was  an  asylum  for  the  perplexed  or  afflicted. — 
Young  Ministers  were  peculiarly  the  objects 
of  his  attention  :  he  instructed  them,  he  encou- 
raged them,  he  warned  them  ;  and  might  truly 
be  said  to  be  a  father  in  Christ,  spending  and 
being  spent,  for  the  interest  of  his  Church.  In 
order  thus  to  execute  the  various  avocations 
©f  the  day,  he  used  to  rise  early ;  he  seldom 
was  found  abroad  in  the  evening,  and  was  ex- 
act in  his  appointments. 

Of  his  writings,  I  think  little  need  be  said 
Rere ;   they  are  in  wide  circulation,  and  best 
Q2 


JBG  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

i 

speak  for  themselves.     An  able  editor  is  now- 
employed  in  adding  some  posthumous  pieces, 
left  for  publication  by  the  author.  After  which, 
the  whole  will  appear  in  a  complete  set,  with  a 
reduced  copy  of  the  admirable  portrait  of  Mr. 
N.  lately  published  by  Mr.   Smith,  engraved 
by  J.  Collyer  A.  R.  A.  from  an  original  paint- 
ing of  J.  Russell  R.  A.     This  w^as  the  only 
reason    why  no  portrait  was  published  with 
these  Memoirs,  as  had  been  done  in  the  Me- 
moirs of  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Mr.  Cadogan,  and 
of  John  Bacon,  Esq. — I  hope  to  see  a  fuller 
and  ^more  accurate  account  of  these  writings 
published  by  the  editor,  should  the  executors 
deem    it   necessary.     At   present,    therefore, 
what  I  shall  observe  upon  them  will  be  but 
*  general  and  cursory.     The  Sermons  Mr.  N. 
published  at  Liverpool,  after  being  refused  on 
his  first  application  for  orders,  were  intended 
to  shew  what  he  would  have  preached,  had  he 
been  admitted ;  they  are  highly  creditable  to 
his  understanding  and  to.  his  heart.    The  faci- 
lity with  which  he  attained  so  much  of  the 
learned  languages  seems  partly  accounted  for, 
from  his  being  able  to  acquire  so  early,  a  neat 
and  natural  style  in  his  own  language,  and  that 
vmder  such  evident  disadvantages.     His  Re- 
view of  ecclesiastical  History,  so  far  as  it  pro- 


REV-   JOHN    XEWTOX.  187 

ceeded,  has  been  much  esteemed ;  and,  if  it 
had  done  no  more  than  excite  the  Rev.  J.  Mil- 
ner  (as  that  most  valuable  and  instructive  au- 
thor informs  us  it  did)  to  pursue  Mr.  N.\s  i 
more  largely,  it  was  sufficient  success.  Before 
this,  the  world  seems  to  have  lost  sight  of  a  his- 
tory of  real  Christianity,  and  to  have  been  con- 
tent with  what,  for  the  most  part,  was  but  an 
account  of  the  ambition  and  politics  of  secular 
men,  assuming  the  Christian  name. 

It  must  be  evident  to  any  one  who  observes 
the  spirit  of  all  his  sermons,  hymns,  tracts,  &x. 
that  nothing  is  aimed  at  which  should  be  met 
by  critical  investigation.  In  the  preface  to  his 
hymns,  he  remarks,  "  Though  I  would  not 
offend  readers  of  taste  by  a  wilful  coarseness 
and  negligence,  I  do  not  write  professedly  for 
them. — I  have  simply  declared  my  own  views 
and  feelings,  as  I  might  have  done  if  I  had 
composed  hymns  in  some  of  the  newly  disco- 
vered islands  in  the  South  Sea,  where  no  per- 
son had  any  knowledge  of  the  name  of  Jesus 
but  myself." 

To  dwell,  therefore,  witk  a  critical  eye  on 
this  part  of  his  public  character  would  be  ab- 
surd and  impertinent,  and  to  erect  a  tribunal 
to  which  he  seems  not  amenable.  He  appears 
to  have  paid  no  regard  to  a  nice  ear,  or  an  ac- 


188  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

curate  reviewer ;  but,  preferring  a  style  at  once 
neat  and  perspicuous,  to  have  laid  out  himself 
entirely  for  the  service  of  the  church  of  God, 
and  more  especially  for  the  tried  and  expe- 
rienced part  of  its  members. 

His  chief  excellence  seemed  to  lie  in  the  ea- 
sy and  natural  style  of  his  epistolary  corres- 
pondence. His  letters  will  be  read  while  real 
religion  exists  ;  and  they  are  the  best  draught 
of  his  own  mind. 

He  had  so  largely  communicated  with  his 
friends  in  this  way,  that  I  have  heard  him  say, 
"  He  thought,  if  his  letters  were  collected, 
they  would  make  several  folios."  He  selected 
many  of  these  for  publication,  and  expressed  a 
hope  that  no  other  person  would  take  that  li- 
berty with  the  rest,  winch  were  so  widely 
spread  abroad.  In  this,  however,  he  was  dis- 
appointed and  grieved,  as  he  once  remarked  to 
me  ;  and  for  which  reason  I  do  not  annex  any 
letters  that  I  received  from  him.  He  esteem- 
ed that  collection  published  under  the  title  of 
Cardiphonia  as  the  most  useful  of  his  writings, 
and  mentioned  various  instances  of  the  benefits 
which  he  heard  they  had  conveyed  to  many. 

His  Apologia,  or  defence  of  conformity, 
was  written  on  occasion  of  some  reflections 


HEV.  JOHN   NEWTON.  183 

(perhaps  only  jocular)  cast  on  him  at  that  time. 
— His  letters  to  a  wife,  written  during  his 
three  voyages  to  Africa,  and  published  1793, 
have  been  received  with  less  satisfaction  than 
most  of  his  other  writings.  While,  however, 
his  advanced  age  and  inordinate  fondness  may 
be  pleaded  for  this  publication,  care  should  be 
taken  lest  men  fall  into  a  contrary  extreme ; 
and  suppose  that  temper  to  be  their  wisdom, 
which  leads  them  to  avoid  another,  which  they 
consider  as  his  weakness.  But  his  Messiah 
before  mentioned,  his  letters  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Vanlier,  chaplain  at  the  Cape — his  memoirs 
of  the  Rev.  John  Cowper  (brother  to  the  poet,) 
and  those  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Grimshaw  of  York- 
shire, together  with  his  single  sermons  and 
tracts,  have  been  well  received,  and  will  re- 
main a  public  benefit. 

I  recollect  reading  a  MS.  which  Mr.  N. 
lent  me,  containing  a  correspondence,  that  had 
passed  between  himself  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dix- 
on, Principal  of  St.  Edmund  Hall,  Oxford ; 
and  another  MS.  of  a  correspondence  between 
him  and  the  late  Rev.  Martin  Madan.  They 
would  have  been  very  interesting  to  the  pub- 
lic, particularly  the  latter,  and  wrere  striking 
evidences  of  Mr.  N.'s  humility,  piety  and  faith- 


190  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

fulness ;   but  reasons  of  delicacy  led  him  to 
commit  the  whole  to  the  flames. 

To  speak  of  his  writings  in  the  mass,  they 
certainly  possess  what  many  have  aimed  at, 
but  very  few  attained,  namely  originality. 
They  are  the  language  of  the  heart ;  they  shew 
a  deep  experience  of  its  religious  feelings,  a 
continual  anxiety  to  sympathise  with  man  in 
his  wrants,  and  to  direct  him  to  his  only  re- 
sources. 

His  conversation,  and  familiar  habits  with 
his  friends,  were  more  peculiar,  amusing,  and 
instructive,  than  any  I  ever  witnessed.  It  is 
difficult  to  convey  a  clear  idea  of  them  by  de- 
scription. I  venture,  therefore,  to  add  a  few 
pages  of  what  I  may  call  his  table-talk,  which 
I  took  down  at  different  times,  both  in  compa- 
ny and  in  private,  from  his  lips.  Such  a  col- 
lection of  printed  remarks  will  not  have  so 
much  point,  as  when  spoken  in  connexion 
with  the  occasion  that  produced  them :  they 
must  appear  to  considerable  disadvantage  thus 
detached,  and  candid  allowance  should  be 
made  by  the  reader  on  this  account.  They, 
however,  who  had  the  privilege  of  Mr.  N.'s 
conversation  when  living,  cannot  but  recog- 
nise the  speaker  in  most  of  them,  and  derive 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTON.  J  V  I 

both  profit  and  pleasure  from  these  remains  of 
their  late  valuable  friend ;  and  such  as  had  not, 
will  (if  I  do  not  mistake)  think  them  the  most 
valuable  part  of  this  book. 


193 

REMARKS 

MADE  BY  MR.  NEWTON, 

In  familiar  conversation. 


"  While  the  mariner  uses  the  loadstone, 
the  philosopher  may  attempt  to  investigate  the 
cause ;  but  after  all,  in  steering  through  the 
ocean,  he  can  make  no  other  use  of  it  than  the 
mariner." 

"  If  an  angel  were  sent  to  find  the  most  per- 
fect man,  he  would  probably  not  find  him  com- 
posing a  body  of  divinity,  but  perhaps  a  crip^ 
pie  in  a  poor-house,  whom  the  parish  wi£b. 
dead,  and  humbled  before  God  with  far  lowea; 
thoughts  of  himself  than  others  think  of  hira.*^ 

u  When  a  Christian  goes  into  the  worl^ 
bedause  he  sees  it  is  his  call,  yet,  while  he  fet3^ 
it  also  his  cross,  it  will  not  lulrt  him." 


R 


194  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

"  Satan  will  seldom  come  to  a  Christian 
with  a  gross  temptation :  a  green  log  and  a 
Candle  may  be  safely  left  together ;  but  bring 
a  few  shavings,  then  some  small  sticks,  and 
then  larger,  andyou  may  soon  bring  the  green 
log  to  ashes." 

"  If  two  angels  came  down  from  heaven  to 
execute  a  divine  command,  and  one  was  ap- 
pointed to  conduct  an  empire,  and  the  other  to 
sweep  a  street  in  it,  they  would  feel  no  incli- 
nation to  choose  employments. " 

"  The  post  of  honour  in  an  army,  is  not 
with  the  baggage,  nor  with  the  women." 

"  What  some  call  providential  openings  are 
often  powerful  temptations ;  the  heart  in  wan- 
dering,  cries,  Here  is  a  way  opened  before  me, 
but,  perhaps,  not  to  be  trodden,  but  rejected." 

"  Young  people  many  as  others  study  navi- 
gation, by  the  fire- side.  If  they  many  unsuit- 
ably, they  can  scarcely  bring  things  to  rule,  but 
like  sailors  they  must  sail  as  near  the  wind  as 
they  can.  I  feel  myself  like  a  traveller  with 
his  wife  in  his  chaise  and  one ;  if  the  ground 
is  smooth,  and  she  keep  the  right  pace,  and  is 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  i(J5 

willing  to  deliver  the   reins   when  1  ask   for 
them,  I  am  always  willing  to  let  her  drive." 

"  I  should  have  thought  mowers  very  idle 
people  ;  but  they  work  while  they  whet  their 
scythes.  Now  devotedness  to  God,  whether 
it  mows  or  whets  the  scythe,  still  goes  on  with 
the  work." 

t;  A  Christian  should  never  plead  spirituality 
for  being  a  sloven  ;  if  he  be  but  a  shoe-clean- 
er, he  should  be  the  best  in  the  parish." 

"  In  choosing  my  text,  I  feel  myself  like  a 
servant  to  whom  a  key  has  been  given  which 
opens  a  particular  drawer,  but  who  has  not 
the  bunch  of  keys  which  open  all  the  drawr- 
ers.  I  therefore  expect  to  be  helped  to  only 
one  text  at  a  time." 

"  My  course  of  study,  like  that  of  a  sur- 
geon, has  principally  consisted  in  walking  the 
hospital." 

"  In  divinity,  as  well  as  in  the  other  profes- 
sions, there  are  the  little  artists.  A  man  may 
be  able  to  execute  the  buttons  of  a  statue  very 
neatly,  but  I  could  not  call  him  an  able  artist 


*y6  MEMOIRS   OP   THE 

There  is  an  air,  there  is  a  taste,  to  which  his 
narrow  capacity  cannot  reach.—  Now  in  the 
church,  there  are  your  dextrous  button-ma- 
kers." 

"  My  principal  method  of  defeating  heresy. 
is  by  establishing  truth— One  proposes  to  fill 
a  bushel  with  tares,  now  if  I  can  fill  it  first  With 
wheat,  I  shall  defy  his  attempts." 

«*When  some  people  talk  of  religion,  they 
mean  they  have  heard  so  many  sermons,  and 
performed  so  many  devotions,  and  thus  mis- 
take  the  means  for  the  end.  But  true  religion 
is  an  habitual  recollection  of  God  and  intention 
to  serve  him,  and  this  turns  every  thing  into 
gold.  We  are  apt  to  suppose  that  we  need 
something  splendid  to  evince  our  devotion, 
but  true  devotion  equals  things — washing 
plates,  and  cleaning  shoes,  is  a  high  office,  if 
performed  in  a  right  spirit. — If  three  angels 
were  sent  to  earth,  they  would  feel  perfect  in- 
difference who  should  perform  the  part  of 
prime-minister,  parish-minister,  or  watch- 
man." 

"  When  a  ship  goes  to  sea,  among  a  vast 
variety  of  its  articles  and  circumstances  there 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  197 

is  but  one  object  regarded,  namely,  doing  the 
business  of  the  voyage  :  every  bucket  is  em- 
ployed with  respect  to  that." 

"  Many  have  puzzled  themselves  about  the 
origin  of  evil :  I  observe  there  is  evil,  and 
that  there  is  a  way  to  escape  it,  and  with  this 
I  beofm  and  end." 

"  Consecrated  things  under  the  law  were 
first  sprinkled  with  blood,  and  then  anointed 
with  oil,  and  thenceforward  were  no  more 
common.  Thus  under  the  Gospel,  every 
Christian  has  been  a  common  vessel  for  pro- 
fane purposes  ;  but  when  sprinkled  and  anoint- 
ed, he  becomes  separated  and  consecrated  to 
God." 

"  I  would  not  give  a  straw  for  that  assu- 
rance which  sin  will  not  damp.    If  David  had 
come  from  his  adultery,  and  had  talked  of  his 
assurance  at  that  time,  I  should  have  despised 
his  speech." 

"  A  spirit  of  adoption  is  the  spirit  of  a  child; 

he  may  disoblige   his  father,   yet  he   is  not 

afraid  of  being  turned   out  of  doors.     The 

union  is  not  dissolved,  though  the  communion 

R  2 


198  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

is.  He  is  not  well  with  his  father,  therefore 
must  be  unhappy,  as  their  interests  are  insepa- 
rable/' 

"  We  often  seek  to  apply  cordials  when  the 
patient  is  not  prepared  for  them,  and  it  is  the 
patient's  advantage  that  he*cannot  take  a  medi- 
cine when  prematurely  offered.  When  a  man 
comes  to  me,  and  says,  '  I  am  quite  happy,9 
I  am  not  sorry  to  find  him  come  again  with 
some  fears. — I  never  saw  a  work  stand  well 
without  a  check,.  4  I  only  want,'  says  one, 
1  to  be  sure  of  being  safe,  and  then  I  will  go 
on.'— No;  perhaps,  then  you  will  go  off.'  " 

"  For  an  old  Christian  to  say  to  a  young 
one,  '  Stand  in  my  evidence,'  is  like  a  man 
who  has  with  difficulty  climbed  by  a  ladder  or 
scaffolding  to  the  top  of  the  house,  and  cries 
to  one  at  the  bottom,  <  This  is  the  place  for  a 
prospect, — come  up  at  a  step. 


5  5J 


"  A  Christian,  like  a  miser,  will  ask  the 
price  of  his  pleasures :  the  miser  has  no  ob- 
jection to  go  to  Brighton,  but  always  asks  what 
it  will  cost  ?  The  miser,  indeed,  has  this  ad- 
vantage, that  he  is  always  in  the  same  frame,*' 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTON.  199 

4v  A  Christian  in  the  world,  is  like  a  man 
who  has  a  long  intimacy  with  one  whom  at 
length  he  finds  out  was  the  murderer  of  a  kind 
father;  the  intimacy,  after  this,  will  surely  be 
broken."   • 

"  Except  a  man  be  born  again  he  cannot  see 
the  kingdom  of  God. — A  man  may  live  in  a 
deep  mine  in  Hungary,  never  having  seen  the 
light  of  the  sun  ;  he  may  have  received  ac- 
counts of  prospects,  and  by  the  help  of  a  can- 
die,  may  have  examined  a  few  engravings  of 
them  ;  but  let  him  be  brought  out  of  the  mine, 
and  set  on  the  mountain — what  a  difference  ap- 
pears !" 

"  In  our  fallen  state,  we  are  a  sort  of  sole- 
cism in  the  universe  ;  other  animals  are  faith- 
ful to  their  instincts,  lambs  do  not  wish  to 
swim,  nor  fish  to  feed  in  a  meadow  :  if  the  sun 
were  a  rational  creature,  he  would  delight  to 
shine,  otherwise  he  ought  to  be  extinguish- 
ed." 

u  Candour  will  always  allow  much  for  inex- 
perience. I  have  been  thirty  years  forming  my 
own  views,  and  in  the  course  of  this  time,  some 
of  my  hills  have  been  sinking,  and  some  of 


200  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

my  vallies  have  risen ;  but  how  unreasonable 
would  it  be  to  expect  all  this  should  take  place 
in  another  person,  and  that  in  the  course  of  a 
year  or  two." 

"  Candour  forbids  us  to  estimate  a  charac- 
ter from  its  accidental  blots.  Yet  it  is  thus 
that  David,  and  others,  have  been  treated." 

"  Apollos  met  with  two  candid  people  in 
the  chur«h;  they  neither  ran  away  because 
he  was  legal,  nor  were  carried  away  because 
he  was  eloquent." 

"  There  is  the  analogy  of  faith ;  it  is  a  mas- 
ter key,  which  not  only  opens  particular  doors, 
but  carries  you  through  the  whole  house  ;  but 
an  attachment  to  a  rigid  system  is  dangerous. 
— Luther  once  turned  out  the  Epistle  of  St. 
James,  because  it  disturbed  his  system.  Dr. 
Owen  will  be  ashamed  of  his  wisdom  and 
clearness  five  minutes  after  he  has  been  in  hea- 
ven. I  shall  preach,  perhaps,  very  usefully 
upon  two  opposite  texts,  while  kept  apart ;  but 
if  I  attempt  nicely  to  reconcile  them,  it  is  ten 
to  one  if  I  don't  begin  to  bungle. 

"  I  can  conceive  a  living  man  without  an  an$ 


REV.  JOHxNT    NEWTON".  201 

or  a  leg,  but  not  without  a  head  or  a  heart :  so 
there  are  some  truths  essential  to  vital  religion, 
and  whieh  all  awakened  souls  are  taught." 

"  Apostasy,  in  all  its  branehes,  takes  its  rise 
from  atheism.  I  have  set  the  Lord  always 
before  me,'&c.  The  doctrine  of  omnipresence 
is  universally  allowed." 

"  We  arc  surprised  at  the  fall  of  a  famous 
professor,  but  in  the  sight  of  God,  the  man 
was  gone  before  ;  it  is  only  wre  that  have  now 
first  discovered  it.  He  that  despiseth  small 
things,   shall  fall  by  little  and  little." 

"  There  are  critical  times  of  danger.  After 
great  services,  honours,  and  consolations,  wc 
should  stand  upon  our  guard.  Noah — Lot — 
David — Solomon,  fell  in  these  circumstances. 
Satan  is  a  footpad :  a  footpad  will  not  attack  a 
man  in  going  to  the  Bank,  but  in  returning  with 
his  pocket  full  of  money." 

"  A  Christian  is  like  a  young  nobleman  who, 
on  going  to  receive  his  estate,  is  at  first  en- 
chanted with  its  prospects  ;  this  in  a  course  of 
time  may  wrear  off,  but  a  sense  of  the  value  of 
the  estate  grows  daily." 


202  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

"  When  we  first  enter  into  the  divine  life, 
we  propose  to  grow  rich ;  God's  plan  is  to 
make  us  feel  poor." 

"  Good  men  have  need  to  take  heed  of  build- 
ing upon  groundless  impressions.  Mr.  Whit- 
field had  a  son,  which  he  imagined  was  born 
to  be  a  very  extraordinary  man  :  but  the  son 
soon  died,  and  the  father  was  cured  of  his  mis- 
take." 

"  I  remember,  in  going  to  undertake  the 
care  of  a  congregation,  I  was  reading  as  I  walk- 
ed in  a  green  lane  *  Fear  not,  Paul,  I  have 
much  people  in  this  city.'  But  I  was  soon 
afterwards  was  disappointed  in  finding  that 
Paul  was  not  John,  and  that  Corinth  was  not 
Warwick." 

"  Christ  has  taken  our  nature  in  heaven,  to 
represent  us ;  and  has  left  us  on  earth,  with 
his  nature,  to  represent  him." 

"  Worldly  men  will  be  true  to  their  princi- 
ples ;  and  if  we  were  as  true  to  ours,  the  visits 
between  the  two  parties  would  be  short  and 
seldom." 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  205 

"  A  Christian  in  the  world,  is  like  a  man 
transacting  his  affairs  in  the  rain.  He  will  not 
suddenly  leave  his  client,  because  it  rains  ;  but 
the  moment  the  business  is  done,  helis  off:  as 
it  is  said  in  the  Acts,  i  Being  let  go,  they  went 
to  their  own  company.'  " 

"  When  a  man  is  joined  to  Christ,  Christ 
says  to  him  as  it  was  once  said  to  the  Levite, 
*  Let  all  thy  wants  lie  upon  me,  only  abide 
not  in  the  street.'  " 

"  God's  word  is  certainly  a  restraint ;  but  it 
is  such  a  restraint  as  the  irons  which  prevent 
children  from  getting  into  the  fire." 

"  The  Scriptures  are  so  full,  that  every  case 
may  be  found  in  them. — A  rake  went  into  a 
church,  and  tried  to  decoy  a  girl  by  saying, 
c  Why  do  you  attend  to  such  stuff  as  these 
Scriptures?' — '  Because,'  said  she,  «  they 
tell  me  that  in  the  last  days  there  shall  come 
such  scoffers  as  you.'  " 

"  God  deals  with  us  as  we  do  with  our  chil- 
dren: he  first  speaks,  then  gives  a  gentle 
stroke,  at  last  a  blow," 


204  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

u  The  religion  of  a  sinner  stands  on  two  pil- 
lars ;  namely,  what  Christ  did  for  us  in  his 
flesh,  and  what  he  performs  in  us  by  his  spirit. 
Most  errors  arise  from  an  attempt  to  separate 
these  two." 

"  We  blame  an  Arminian  for  his  want  of 
submission  to  divine  sovereignty ;  yet  let  a 
shower  of  rain  fall  on  a  suit  of  new  clothes, 
and  we  cannot  submit  ourselves." 

"  Man  is  not  taught  any  thing  to  purpose 
till  God  becomes  his  teacher,  and  then  the 
glare  of  the  world  is  put  out,  and  the  value  of 
the  soul  rises  in  full  view.  A  man's  present 
sentiments  may  not  be  accurate,  but  we  make 
too  much  of  sentiments.  We  pass  a  field  with 
a  few  blades — we  call  it  a  field  of  wheat ;  but 
here  is  no  wheat — no,  not  in  perfection,  but 
wheat  is  sown,  and  full  ears  may  be  expected." 

"  The  word  temperance  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment, signifies  self-possession ;  it  is  a  disposi- 
tion suitable  to  one  who  has  a  race  to  run,  and 
therefore  will  not  load  his  pockets  with  lead.5' 

"  One  reason  why  we  must  not  attempt  to 
pull  up  the  tares  which  grow  among  the  wheat, 


REV.   JOHN"    NEWTON.  205 

is,  that  we  have  not  skill  for  the  work :  li\ 
Weeder  whom  Mrs.  N.  employed  in  my  g 
den  at  OIney,  who  for  weeds  pulled  up  some 
of  Mrs.  N.'s  favourite  flowers." 

iX  Contrivers  of  systems  on  the  earth,  are 
like  contrivers  of  systems  in  the  heavens  j 
where  the  sun  and  moon  keep  the  same  course., 
in  spite  of  the  philosophers." 

"  I  endeavour  to  walk  through  the  wrorld  as 
a  physician  goes  through  Bedlam  :  the  patients 
make  a  noise,  pester  him  with  impertinence,, 
and  hinder  him  in  his  business  ;  but  he  does 
the  best  he  can,  and  so  gets  through." 

"  A  man  always  in  society,  is  one  always  on 
the  spend  ;  on  the  other  hand,  a  mere  solitary., 
is  at  his  best  but  a  candle  in  an  empty  room.v 

"  If  we  were  upon  the  watch  for  improve 
ment,  the  common  news  of  the  day  would  fur* 
nish  it :  the  falling  of  the  tower  in  Siloam,  antf! 
the  slaughter  of  the  Gallileans,  wrere  the  news 
of  the  day  ;  which  our  Lord  improved." 

"  The  generality  make  out  their  righteous 
ness,   by   comparing  themselves    with   souk 
others  whom  they  think  worse  ;  thus  a  woman 
S 


206  MEMOIRS    OF     THE 

of  the  town  who  was  rotting  in  the  Lock  Hos- 
pital, was  offended  at  a  minister  speaking  to 
her  as  a  sinner,  because  she  had  never  picked 
a  pocket.5' 

"  Take  toy  from  a  child  and  give 

him  smother,  and  he  is  satisfied ;  but  if  he  be 
hungry,  no  toy  will  do.  Thus,  as  new-born 
babes,  true  believers  desire  the  sincere  milk 
of  the  word,  and  the  desire  of  grace,  in  this 
way,  is  grace." 

One  said  that  the  great  saints  in  the  calendar 
Were  many  of  them  poor  sinners ;  Mr.  N.  re- 
plied, they  were  poor  saints  indeed,  if  they  did 
not  feel  that  they  were  great  sinners. 

"  A  wise  man  looks  upon  men  as  he  does 
tipon  horses,  and  considers  their  caparisons  of 
title,  wealth,  and  place,  but  as  harness." 

"  The  force  of  what  we  deliver  from  the 
pulpit,  is  often  lost  by  a  starched,  and  what  is 
often  called  a  correct  style,  and  especially  by 
adding  meretricious  ornaments.  I  called  upon  a 
lady  who  had  been  robbed,  and  she  gave  me  a 
striking  account  "of  the  fact ;  but  had  she  put 
it  in  heroics,  I  should  neither  so  well  have  un- 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  307 

derstood  her,  nor  been  so  well  convinced  that 
she  had  been  robbed." 

i:  When  a  man  says  he  received  a  blessing 
under  a  sermon,  I  begin  to  inquire  who  this 
man  is  that  speaks  of  the  help  he  has  received  ? 
The  Roman  people  proved  the  effect  they  re- 
ceived under  a  sermon  of  Antony,  when  they 
flew  to  avenge  the  death  of  Caesar." 

"  The  Lord  has  reasons  far  beyond  our  ken, 
for  opening  a  wide  door,  while  he  stops  the 
mouth  of  a  useful  preacher. — John  Bunyan 
would  not  have  done  half  the  good  he  did,  if 
he  had  remained  preaching  in  Bedford,  instead 
of  being  shut  up  in  Bedford  prison." 

"  If  I  could  go  to  France,  and  give  every 
man  in  it  a  right  and  peaceable  mind  by  my 
labour,  I  should  have  a  statue  ;  but  to  produce 
such  an  effect  in  the  conversion  of  one  soul, 
would  be  a  far  greater  achievement." 

"  Ministers  would  over-rate  their  labours, 
if  they  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  be  born, 
and  spend  ten  thousand  years  in  labour  and 
contempt,  to  recover  one  soul." 

"  Doivt  tell  me  of  your  feelings*    A  travel 


208  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

ler  would  be  glad  of  fine  weather,  but  if  he  be 
a  man  of  business,  he  will  go  on. — Bunyan 
says,  you  must  not  judge  of  a  man's  haste  by 
his  horse;  for  when  the  horse  can  hardly 
move,  you  may  see  by  the  rider's  urging  him, 
what  a  hurry  he  is  in." 

"  A  man  and  a  beast  may  stand  upon  the 
same  mountain,  and  even  touch  one  another, 
yet  they  are  in  two  different  worlds  :  the  beast 
perceives  nothing  but  the  grass,  but  the  man 
contemplates  the  prospect,  and  thinks  of  a 
thousand  remote  things. — Thus  a  Christian 
may  be  solitary  at  a  full  exchange  ;  he  can  con- 
verse with  the  people  there  upon  trade,  poli- 
tics, and  the  stocks  ;  but  they  cannot  talk  with 
him  upon  the  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all 
understanding." 

"  Love  and  fear  are  like  the  sun  and  moon, 
seldom  seen  together." 

"  Two  men  go  into  a  wood  with  their  guns, 
and  one  fires  as  often  as  the  other ;  but  one 
kills  a  great  quantity  of  game,  because  he  fires 
with  shot.  Some,  like  Zaccheus,  think  they 
sit  very  snug  in  a  corner,  and  are  brought  down 
much  before  they  expect  it." 


REV.    JOHN    NEWT  OX. 

[  dreamt  one  night  that  I  saw  Matthew 
Henry  lie  open  at  this  text,  4  Let  your  wo~ 
men  keep  silence  in  the  churches/  and 
thought  I  read  the  following  note  at  bottom. 
*  Note.  We  see  the  reason  why  women  are 
forbid  to  preach  the  Gospel,  for  they  would 
persuade  without  argument,  and  reprove  with- 
out giving  offence.'  " 

u  It  is  a  mere  fallacy  to  talk  of  the  sins  of  .a 
short  life.  The  sinner  is  always  a  sinner. — 
Put  a  pump  into  a  river,  you  may  throw  out- 
some  water,  but  the  river  remains." 

"  Professors  who  own  the  doctrines  of  free 
grace,  often  act  inconsistent  with  their  owp 
principle  when  they  are  angry  at  the  defects  of 
others. — A  company  of  travellers  fall  into. a 
pit,  one  of  them  gets  a  passenger  to  draw  hijn 
out:  now  he  should  not  be  angry  with  the  rest 
for  falling  in,  nor  because  they  are  not  yet  cmt, 
as  he  is.  He  did  not  pull  himself  out ;  instead, 
therefore,  of  reproaching  them,  lie  should  shew^ 
them  pity  ;  he  should  avoid  at  any  rate  going 
down  upon  their  ground  again,  and  shew  how 
much  better  and  happier  he  is  upon  his  own. 
— We  should  take  care  that  we  do  not  make 
©ur  profession  of  religion  a  receipt  in  full  for 
S2 


210  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

all  other  obligations.  A  man,  truly  illumina- 
ted, will  no  more  despise  others,  than  Barti- 
meus,  after  his  own  eyes  were  opened,  would 
take  a  stick,  and  beat  every  blind  man  he 
met." 

"  We  are  much  mistaken  in  supposing  that 
the  removal  of  a  particular  obstruction,  would 
satisfy  the  objector. — Suppose  I  am  in  bed, 
and  want  to  know  whether  it  be  light,  it  is  not 
enough  if  I  draw  the  curtain  ;  for  if  there  be 
tight,  I  must  have  eyes  to  see  it." 

"  Too  deep  a  consideration  of  eternal  reali- 
ties, might  unfit  a  man  for  his  present  circum- 
stances.— Walking  through  Saint  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital  or  Bedlam  must  deeply  af- 
fect a  feeling  mind,  but  in  reality  this  world 
is  a  far  worse  scene;  it  has  but  two  wards,  in 
the  one  men  are  miserable,  in  the  other  mad." 

"  Some  preachers  near  Olney  dwelt  on  the 
doctrine  of  predestination  ;  an  old  woman  said 
— i  Ah !  I  have  long  settled  that  point,  for  if 
God  had  not  chosen  me  before  I  was  born,  I 
am  sure  he  would  have  seen  nothing  in  me  to 
have  chosen  me  for  afterwards.'  " 


REV.    JOHK     NEWTOX*  21^ 

"  Law  has  swept  away  Warburton's  cob- 
web, with  a  single  brush. — Abel  pleased  God, 
but  Cain  killed  him ;  therefore,  it  was  a  dan- 
gerous thing  to  please  God,  if  there  were  n© 
future  state." 

"  I  see  the  unprofitableness  of  controversy 
in  the  case  of  Job  and  his  friends  ;  for  if  God 
had  not  interposed,  had  they  lived  to  this  day., 
they  would  have  continued  to  dispute." 

"  It  is  pure  mercy  that  negatives  a  particu- 
lar request. — A  miser  would  pray  very  ear- 
nestly for  gold,  if  he  believed  prayer  would 
gain  it ;  wrhereas,  if  Christ  had  any  favour  to 
him,  he  wrould  take  his  gold  away. — A  child 
walks  in  the  garden  in  Spring,  and  sees  cher- 
ries ;  he  knows  they  are  good  fruit,  and  there- 
fore asks  for  them.  '  No,  my  dear/  says  the 
father,  '  they  are  not  yet  ripe: — Stay  till  the 
season.'  " 

"  If  I  cannot  take  pleasure  in  infirmities,  I 
can  sometimes  feel  the  profit  of  them. — I  can 
conceive  a  king  to  pardon  a  rebel,  and  take 
him  into  his  family,  and  then  say,  '  I  appoint 
you  for  a  season  to  wear  a  fetter.  At  a  cer- 
tain season  I  will  send  a  messenger  to  knock 


212  MEMOIRS    02?    THE 

it  off.  In  the  mean  time  this  fetter  will  serve 
to  remind  you  of  your  state  ;  it  may  humble 
you,. and  restrain  you  from  rambling.'  " 

"  Some  Christians,  at  a  glance,  seem  of  a  su- 
periour  order,  and  are  not ;  they  want  a  certain 
quality. — At  a  florist's  feast  the  other  day,  a 
a  certain  flower  was  determined  to  bear  the  bell, 
but  it  was  found  to  be  an  artificial  flower: 
there  is  a  quality  called  growth  which  it  had 
not." 

"  Doctor  Taylor  of  Norwich  said  to  me, 
4  Sir,  I  have  collated  every  word  in  the  Hebrew 
Scriptures  seventeen  times ;  and  it  is  very 
strange  if  the  doctrine  of  atonement  you  hold, 
should  not  have  been  found  by  me.' — I  am 
not  surprised  at  this  :  I  once  went  to  light  my 
candle  with  the  extinguisher  on  it :  now,  preju- 
dices from  education,  learning,  &c.  often  form 
an  extinguisher.- — It  is  not  enough  that  you 
bring  the  candle,  you  must  remove  the  extin- 
guisher." 

"  I  measure  ministers  by  square  measure.  I 
have  no  idea  of  the  size  of  a  table,  if  you  only 
tell  me  how  long  it  is  ;  but  if  you  also  say  how 
wide,  I  can  tell  its  dimensions. — So  when  you 
tell  me  what  a  man  is  in  the  pulpit,  you  must 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTON.  213 

also  tell  me  what  he  is  out  of  it,  or  I  shall  not 
know  his  size." 

"  If  Nebuchadnezzar's  image  was  of  solid 
gold,  and  every  worshipper  was  to  have  a  bit 
of  it,  I  fear  our  nation  as  well  as  his,  would  be 

dy  to  fall  down  before  it." 

"  There  were  two  sorts  of  Calvinists  at  Ol- 
ney,  and  they  always  reminded  me  of  the  two 
baskets  of  Jeremiah's  figs." 

"  A  man  should  be  born  to  high  things  not 
to  lose  himself  in  them. — Slaters  will  walk  on 
the  ridge  of  an  house  with  ease,  which  would 
turn  our  heads." 

"  Much  depends  on  the  way  we  come  into 
trouble. — Paul  and  Jonah  were  both  in  a 
storm,  but  in  very  different  circumstances." 

"  I  have  read  of  many  wicked  Popes,  but 
the  worst  Pope  I  ever  met  with  is  Pope 
Self." 

"  The  men  of  this  world  are  children. — Of- 
fer a  child  an  apple  and  a  bank-note,  he  will 
doubtless  choose  the  apple." 


214  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

9  A  pious  gentlewoman  told  me  of  her  pot- 
tery being  burnt.  '  I  congratulate  you,  Ma- 
dam,5 said  I,  '  in  possessing  something  you 
cannot  lose.'  " 

H  The  heir  of  a  great  estate,  while  a  child, 
thinks  more  of  a  few  shillings  in  his  pocket 
than  of  his  inheritance. — So  a  Christian  is  of- 
ten more  elated  by  some  frame  of  heart,  than 
by  his  title  to  glory.' ' 

"  A  dutiful  child  is  ever  looking  forward  to 
the  holidays,  when  he  shall  return  to  his  father; 
but  he  does  not  think  of  running  from  school 
before, " 

"  The  Gospel  is  a  proclamation  of  free  mer. 
cy  to  guilty  creatures — an  act  of  grace  to  re- 
bels. Now,  though  a  rebel  should  throw  away 
his  pistols,  and  determine  to  go  into  the  woods, 
and  make  his  mind  better  before  he  goes  to 
court  and  pleads  the  act;  he  may,  indeed,  not 
be  found  in  arms,  yet  being  taken  in  his  re- 
forming scheme,  he  will  be  hanged." 

"  The  devil  told  a  lie  when  he  said,  '  All 
these  things  are  mine,  and  to  whomsoever  I 
will  I  give  them  ;  for  if  he  had  the  disposal  of 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON. 

preferments,  since  he  knows  the  effect  of  them. 

you  and  I,  brother  C ,  should  soon  be  dig 

nitaries." 

"  Man  is  made  capable  of  three  births — b} 
nature  he  enters  the  present  world — by  grace 
into  spiritual  light  and  life — by  death  into  glo 


"  In  my  imagination,   I  sometimes  fancy  1 
could  make  a  perfect  minister.   I  take  the  elo 

quence  of ,   the  knowledge  of ,  the 

zeal  of ,  and  the  pastoral  meekness,  ten- 
derness and  piety  of ;  then  putting  them 

all  together  into  one  man,  I  say  to  myself,  this 
would  be  a  perfect  minister.  Now  there  is 
one  who,  if  he  chose  it,  could  actually  do  this,, 
but  he  never  did — he  has  seen  fit  to  do  otf 
wrise,  and  to  divide  these  "gifts  to  even'  man 
severally  as -he  will." 

"  I  feel  like  a  man  who  has  no  money  in  his 
pocket,  but  is  allowed  to  draw  for  all  he  wants 
upon  one  infinitely  rich  :  I  am,  therefore,  at 
once  both  a  beggar  and  a  rich  man." 

"  I  went  one  day  to  Mrs.  G 's  just  af- 
ter she  had  lost  all  her  fortune  ;   I  could  not  ht 


316  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

surprised  to  find  her  in  tears,  but  she  said, 
'  I  suppose  you  think  I  am  crying  for 
my  loss,  but  that  is  not  the  case  ;  I  am  now 
weeping  to  think  I  should  feel  so  much 
uneasiness  on  the  accout.5  After  that,  I 
never  heard  her  speak  again  upon  the  subject 
as  long  as  she  lived. — Why  now  this  is  just 
as  it  should  be. — Suppose  a  man  was  going 
to  York  to  take  possession  of  a  large  estate, 
and  his  chaise  should  break  down  a  mile 
before  he  got  to  the*  city,  which  obliged  him 
to  walk  the  rest  of  the  way  ;  what  a  fool  we 
should  think  him  if  we  saw  him  wringing  his 
hands,  and  blubbering  out  all  the  remaining 
mile,  '  My  chaise  is  broken  !'  '  My  chaise  is 
broken !'" 

"  I  have  many  books  that  I  cannot  sit  down 
to  read  ;  they  are,  indeed,  good  and  sound ; 
but,  like  halfpence,  there  goes  a  great  quantity 
to  a  little  amount  :  there  are  silver  books,  and, 
a  very  few  golden  books,  but  I  have  one  book 
worth  more  than  all,  called  the  Bible ;  and 
that  is  a  book  of  bank-notes." 


J  conclude  these  remarks,  not  because  my 
memorandum-book   is   exhausted,     but  lest 


R  E  \ 

the  reader  should  think  I  forget  th<  ma  am,  tie 

quid  nimis.     No  undue  liberty,  however,  h 
been  taken  in  publishing  Mr.  N.'s  private  con- 
versation,   since   all   the  above  remarks   were 
submitted  to  him  as  intended  for  this  publica- 
tion,   and  were  approved. 


T 


b 


219 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS. 


The  difference  of  mental  improvement  among 
men,  seems  very  much  to  depend  on  their  ca- 
pacity and  habit  of  gathering  instruction  from 
the  objects  which  are  continually  presented  to 
their  observation.  Two  men  behold  the  same 
fact;  one  of  them  is  in  the  habit  of  drawing  such 
remarks  and  inferences  as  the  fact  affords,  and 
learns  something  from  every  thing  he  sees  ; 
while  the  other  sees  the  same  fact,  and  per- 
haps, with  a  momentary  admiration,  but  lets  it 
pass  without  making  so  much  as  one  profitable 
reflection  on  the  occasion. — The  excursions  of 
the  bee  and  the  butterfly,  present  an  exact  em- 
blem of  these  two  characters. 

I  have  present  to  my  mind  an  acquaintance, 
who  has  seen  more  of  the  outside  of  the  world 
than  most  men  ;  he  has  lived  in  most  countries 
of  the  civilized  world,  yet  I  scarcely  know  a 
man  of  a  less  improved  mind.  With  every 
external  advantage,  he  has  learned  nothing  to 
any  useful  purpose  he  seems  to  have  passed 
from  flower  to  flower  without  extracting  a 
drop  of  honey  ;  and  now,  he  tires  all  his  friends 


MEMOIRS   OP    THE 

with  the  frivolous  garrulity  of  a    capricious, 
vacant,  and  petulant  old  age. 

I  wish  the  reader  of  these  Memoirs  may 
avoid  such  an  error,  in  passing  over  the  history 
here  laid  before  him.  An  extraordinary  train 
of  facts  is  presented  to  his  observation ;  and 
if  "  the  proper  study  of  mankind  is  man," 
the  history  before  us,  will  surely  furnish  im- 
portant  matter  of  the  kind,  to  the  eye  of  ever} 
wise,  moral  traveller. 

I  would  here  call  the  attention  of  three  class- 
es of  men  to  a  single  point  of  prime  impor- 
tance, namely,  to  the  efficacy  and  excel- 
lency of  real  Christianity  as  exhibited 
in  the  principles  and  practice  of  the  subject  of 
these  Memoirs. 

I.  Suppose  the  reader  to  be  so  unhappy 
(though  his  misfortune  may  be  least  perceived 
by  himself)  as  to  be  led  astray  by  bad  society, 
in  conjunction  with  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief. 
I  will  suppose  him  to  be  now  in  the  state 
in  which  Mr.  N.  describes  himself  formerly 
to  have  been,  and  in  which  also  the  writer  of 
these  Memoirs  once  was.  I  will  suppose  him 
to  be  given  up  to  believe  his  own  lie ;  and 
that  he  may  be  in  the  habit  of  thinking  that 
God,  when  he  made  man,  left  him  to  find  his 
way  without  any  express  revelation  of  the  mind 
and  will  of  his  Maker  and  Governor,  or  at 


XEV.    JOHN     NEWTON. 

most  that  he  is  left  to  the  only  rule  in  morals 
which  nature  may  be  supposed  to  present. — 
What  that  way  is,  which  such  a  thinker  will 
take,  is  sufficiently  evident  from  the  general 
course  and  habits  of  unbelievers.  But  there 
is  a  conscience  in  man.  Conscience  in  sober 
moments,  often  alarm  sthe  most  stout-hearted. 
When  such  an  unbeliever  meets  an  overwhelm- 
ing providence,  or  lies  on  a  death-bed,  he  will 
probably  awake  to  a  strong  sense  of  his  real 
condition.  He  will  feel,  if  not  very  hardened 
indeed,  in  what  a  forlorn,  unprovided,  and  dan- 
gerous state  he  exists  ;  life  is  the  moment  in 
which  only  this  sceptical  presumption  can  con- 
tinue, and  when  it  is  terminating,  where  is  he 
to  set  the  sole  of  his  foot  ?  He  wildly  contem- 
plates the  book  of  nature,  in  which  he  may 
have  been  persuaded  that  man  may  read  all  he 
needs  to  know ;  but  the  forlorn  outcast  sees 
nothing  there  to  meet  his  case  as  a  sinner.  In- 
finite power,  wisdom,  contrivance,  general  pro- 
vision alone  appear  ;  but  nothing  of  that  fur- 
ther and  distinct  information  which  a  dying 
offender  needs.  He  wants  footing,  and  finds 
none.  He  needs  the  hand  of  a  friend  to  grasp, 
but  none  is  seen.  Possibilities  shock  his  ap- 
prehension. He  may,  perhaps,  discern  that 
the  present  system  has  a  moral  government. 
T2 


222  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

which  frowns  upon  guilt ;  and  for  aught  he 
knows  to  the  contrary,  the  next  scene  may  pre- 
sent a  judge  upon  his  throne  of  justice, ---this 
world,  his  present  idol,  vanished  like  smoke, 
and  quick  and  dead  called  to  give  their  ac- 
count. Where  then  is  he  ?— an  atom  of  guilt 
and  wretchedness.  All  this  I  say  may  be,  for 
aught  he  knows  to  the  contrary.  But  the  ex  - 
press  and  well-authenticated  revelation  which 
that  Judge  hath  sent  to  man,  tells  us  plainly 
that  all  this  shall  be,  and  that  every  eye  shall 
behold  it ! 

"  Be  it  so,"  such  a  reader  may  reply,  "  still 
I  am  what  I  am.  My  habits  of  thinking  are 
fixed  ;  and  I  perceive  my  habits  of  life  can  on- 
ly be  decently  borne  out  by  my  profession  of 
unbelief.  Both  are  now  inveterate.  Nor  do 
I  see,  all  things  considered,  what  can  be  done 
in  my  case.  How  can  I  adopt  the  Christian 
revelation  ? — and  what  could  it  do  for  me  if  I 
could  ?"  I  answer  by  calling  your  attention  to 
the  fact  before  us.  What  was  the  case  of 
John  Newton  ? 

Could  any  one  be  more  deeply  sunk  in  de- 
pravity, in  profligacy,  in  infidelity  than  he  ? 
Can  you  even  conceive  a  rational  creature 
more  degraded,  or  more  hardened  in  his  evil 
habits  ?  Would  you  attempt  to  recover  such 


REV.  JOHN    NEWTON.       N  22) 

a  mind  by  arguments  drawn  from  the  advan- 
tage which  virtue  has  over  vice  ?  or  by  rous- 
ing his  attention  to  the  duties  of  natural  reli- 
gion ?  or  the  possible  consequences  of  a  fu- 
ture retribution  ?  He  would  have  gone  on 
thinking  he  had  made  the  most  of  his  circum- 
stances, in  his  practice  of  catching  fish,  and 
eating  them  almost  raw. ---He  w7ould  sullenly 
have  proceeded  to  sleep  through  the  drying  of 
his  one  shirt  which  he  had  just  washed  on  the 
rock,  and  pat  on  wet. — He  would,  with  a  sa- 
vage ferocity,  have  watched  an  opportunity 
for  murdering  his  master. — He  would  have 
drowned  all  reflection  in  a  drunken  revel,  and 
overwhelmed  all  remonstrance,  by  belching 
out  new- invented  blasphemies  ;  and  then 
sought  to  rush  headlong,  in  a  drunken  parox- 
ysm, into  the  ocean. * 

Here  is  certainly  presented  the  utmost  pitch 
of  a  depraved  and  a  degraded  nature,  nor  does 
it  seem  possible  for  Satan  to  carry  his  point 
further  with  a  man — except  in  one  single  in* 
stance,  namely,  by  the  final  disbelief  of  a  re- 
medy. 

Now  by  God's  help  this  divine  remedy  was 
applied,    and    its   efficacy   demonstrated,    of 

*  Sec  these  Memoirs,  pages  27,  37,  40,  47,  5 1 . 


224  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

which  there  are  thousands  of  living  witnesses. 
A  plain  matter  of  fact  is  before  us.  It  pleased 
God  by  a  train  of  dispensations,  that  this  pro- 
digal should  come  to  himself. — He  is  made  to 
feel  his  wants  and  misery.  He  follows  the 
light  shining  in  a  dark  place.  He  calls  for 
help.  He  is  made  willing  to  follow  his  guide. 
He  proceeds  with  implicit  confidence,  and  now 
let  us  examine  to  what,  at  length,  he  is  brought; 
and  also  by  what  means  ? 

I  speak  of  a  matter  of  fact — whither  is  lie 
brought  ?  He  is  brought  from  the  basest, 
meanest,  under-trodden  state  of  slavery — from 
a  state  of  mind  still  more  degraded,  being  fool- 
ish, disobedient,  deceived,  serving  divers  lusts 
and  pleasures,  living  in  malice  and  envy,  hate- 
ful and  hating — wanting  nothing  of  a  com- 
plete devil,  but  his  powers.  This  man  is 
brought,  I  say,  to  be  a  faithful  and  zealous 
servant  of  his  God — an  able  and  laborious  mi- 
nister of  Christ — a  useful  and  benevolent 
friend  to  his  neighbour — wise  to  secure  the 
salvation  of  his  own  soul,  and  wise  to  win  the 
souls  of  others. 

Consider  also  the  means  by  which  he  was 
brought.  It  was  not  by  the  arguments  of  phi- 
losophers,  or  the  rational  considerations  of 


V  B  WTON. 

\li;;t  is  culled  natural  religion:   Mr.  N.\sown 

Hint  informs  us,  that  the  peculiar  disco- 
ties  of  revealed  truth  gradually  broke  in  upon 
his  mind  ;  till,  at  length,  he  was  made  sensible 
that  there  was  a  remedy  provided  in  the  Gos- 
pel, and  which  was  fully  sufficient  to  meet 
even  his  ease,  and  he  found  that,  and  that  on- 
ly, to  be  "  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation." 
The  result,  therefore,  which  should  be  drawn 
from  these  premises  is  the  following.  There 
exists  a  desperate  disorder  in  the  world  called 
sin.  Heathens  as  well  as  Christians  have 
marked  its  malignant  influence — they  have 
tried  various  expedients  which  have  been  pre- 
scribed for  its  cure,  or  at  least  its  mitigation — 
but  no  means,  except  God's  own  appointed 
means,  have  been  discovered  that  have  been 
able  to  relieve  so  much  as  a  single  individual. 
Yet,  strange  to  say,  this  medicina  mentis  of 
God's  own  appointment,  to  which  only  he  has 
promised  a  peculiar  blessing,  and  by  which  he 
is  daily  recovering  men  in  the  most  desperate 
circumstances,  who  actually  employ  it :  strange 
to  say,  this  remedy  still  remains  a  stumbling 
block — is  counted  foolishness — insomuch  that 
many  will  rather  dash  this  cup  of  salvation 
from  the  lips  of  a  profligate,  like  Newton,  when 
disposed  to  receive  it,  than  he  should  obtain 


226  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

relief  that  way. — Their  conduct  seems  to  say, 
"  Rather  let  such  a  wretch  go  on  in  his  profli- 
gacy, than  the  Gospel  be  acknowledged  to  be 
the  wisdom  and  the  power  of  God." 

Not  that  the  case  of  Mr.  N.  here  presented 
to  the  consideration  of  an  unbeliever,  is  brought 
forward  as  if  the  Gospel  needed  any  further 
evidence — or  has  occasion  for  facts  of  our  own 
time  to  give  it  additional  authenticity  :  but  we 
are  directed  to  regard  the  "  cloud  of  wit- 
nesses," among  which  our  departed  brother 
was  distinguished;  and  though  now  dead,  yet 
speaketh.  May  the  reader  have  ears  to  hear 
the  important  report ! 

Does,  therefore,  the  question  return  as  to 
what  the  unbeliever  should  do?  Let  him, 
after  seriously  considering  what  is  here  advanc- 
ed, consider  also  what  conduct  is  becoming  a 
responsible,  or  at  least  a  rational  creature? 
Surely  it  becomes  such  a  one  to  avoid  all 
means  of  stifling  the  voice  of  conscience  when- 
ever it  begins  to  speak — to  regard  the  voice 
of  God  yet  speaking  to  him  in  the  revelation 
of  his  grace,  and  that  much  more  humbly  and 
seriously  than  such  persons  are  wont  to  do. — 
It  becomes  him,  if  he  have  any  regard  to  the 
interest  of  his  own  soul,  or  the  souls  of  his  fel- 
low-creatures, to  give  no  countenance  by  his 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTON. 

declarations  or  example,  to  the  scns<  Us, 

and  indecent  scoffs,  by  which  the  profligate 
aim  to  cloak  the  disorders  of  their  hearts — by 
which  vanity  aims  at  distinction,  and  half- 
thinkers  affect  depth. — The  person  I  am  now 
speaking  to,  cannot  but  observe  how  much  the 
judgment  becomes  the  dupe  of  the  passions. 
"  If  the  veil  be  upon  the  heart,  it  will  be  upon 
every  thing.  We  need  not  only  an  object  pre- 
sented, but  an  organ  to  discern  it.  Now  the 
Gospel  only  affords  both  these.  Mr.  N.  be- 
comes  an  instructive  example  in  this  respect 
to  the  unbeliever.—'4  One  of  the  first  helps," 
says  he,  "  I  received  (in  consequence  of  a  de- 
termination to  examine  the  New  Testament 
piore  carefully)  was  from  Luke,  vi.  13.  If  ye 
then,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts 
unto  your  children,  how  much  more  shall  your 
heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them 
that  ask  him  ?  I  had  been  sensible,  that  to 
profess  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  when,  in  reality, 
I  did  not  believe  his  history,  was  no  better 
than  a  mockery  of  the  heart-searching  God  ; 
but  here  I  found  a  Spirit  spoken  of,  which 
was  to  be  communicated  to  those  who  ask  it. 
Upon  this  I  reasoned  thus  :  if  this  book  b< 
true,  the  promise  in  this  passage  must  be  true 


228  MEMOIRS   OF     THE 

likewise :  I  have  need  of  that  very  Spirit  by 
which  the  wiiole  was  written  in  order  to  un- 
derstand it  aright.  He  has  engaged  here,  to 
give  that  Spirit  to  those  who  ask  :  and  if  it  be 
of  God,  he  will  make  good  his  own  word." 

A  man,  therefore,  who  is  found  in  this  un- 
happy state,  but  not  judicially  hardened  in  it, 
should  mark  this  stage  of  Mr.  N.'s  recovery,, 
and  attend  to  the  facts  and  evidences  of  the 
power  and  excellency  of  real  religion,  such  as 
this  before  him. — He  should  appreciate  that 
Gospel,  which  it  has  pleased  God  to  employ 
as  his  instrument  for  displaying  the  wonders 
of  his  might  in  the  moral  world.  He  should 
pray  that  he  may  experience  the  power  of  it  in 
his  owti  heart,  and  thus  not  lose  the  additional 
benefit  of  the  cases  presented  to  him  in  Me- 
moirs like  these  ;  a  case,  probably,  far  exceed- 
ing his  own  in  the  malignity  of  its  symptoms,, 
* — Let  him  also  consider  that,  while  such  con- 
victions can  produce  no  real  loss  to  him,  they 
may  secure  advantages  beyond  calculation. 
He  may  not  be  able  at  present  to  comprehend 
how  "  Godliness  is  profitable  for  all  things,  in 
having  not  only  the  promise  of  the  life  that  no\P 
is,  but  that  which  is  to  come  ;"  but  he  may 
see,  as  a  rational  creature,  that,  at  the  very 
fewest  estimation,  he  has  taken  the  safe  side* 


ItEV.   JOHN    NEWTi 

by  embracing  the  only  hope  set  before  him  ; 
and  on  this  ground,  it  is  clearly  demonstrable 
that  not  only  the  grossest  folly  must  attach  to 
the  rejector  of  a  revelation  attended  with  such 
accumulated  evidences,  but  also  actual  guilt, 
and  the  highest  ingratitude  and  presumption. 

II.  But  there  is  another  class  of  men,  to 
whom  I  would  recommend  a  serious  consi- 
deration of  Mr.  N.'s  religious  character  and 
principles.  The  persons  whom  I  am  now  ad- 
dressing are  convinced  of  the  truth  of  revela- 
tion, and  some  of  them  ably  contend  for  it- 
against  unbelievers.  They  are  also  conscien- 
tious— they  are  often  useful  in  society — and 
are  sometimes  found  amiable  and  benevolent 
— they  are  even  religious  according  to  their 
views  of  religion — and  some  of  them  are  exact 
in  their  devotions.  Yet,  from  certain  morbid 
symptoms,  they  appear  not  to  receive  the  grace 
of  God  in  truth,  nor  to  be  cordially  dispos- 
ed to  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel. — So  much  appa- 
rent right  intention  and  exemplary  conduct 
seems,  indeed,  to  demand  respect ;  and  a  r 
pect  which  some  who  possess  more  zeal  than 
judgment  do  not  duly  pay  them. 

Ardelio  despises  his  neighbour  Eusebius^s 
religious    views  and   habits ;    and  not    onh 
deems  him  a  blind  pharisee,   but  has  soi^ 
U 


230  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

times  expressed  the  sentiment  in  the  rudest 
terms.  This  reminds  me  of  the  old  story  of 
Diogenes'  walking  on  the  costly  carpet  of  his 
brother  philosopher,  saying,  "  I  trample  on 
the  pride  of  Plato." 

"  Yes,"  said  Plato,  "  but  with  greater 
pride,  Diogenes." 

If  it  be  asked,  Why  should  any  one  judge 
unfavourably  of  such  a  character  as  Eusebius  ? 
I  answer,  we  may  charitably  seek  to  convince 
one  whom  we  have  reason  to  think  under  fatal 
mistakes,  without  any  disposition  to  judge  or 
condemn  him.  I  meet  a  traveller  who  is  con- 
fidently pursuing  a  path,  which  Ihave  reason 
to  believe  is  both  wide  of  his  mark,  and  danger- 
ous to  his  person  ;  I  may  charitably  attempt 
to  direct  his  steps,  without  thinking  ill  of  his 
intention. — It  is  recorded  of  our  Lord,  that  he 
even  loved  a  young  man,  who  went  away  sor- 
rowful on  having  his  grand  idol  exposed. 
But  why,  it  is  asked,  should  you  suspect  any 
thing  essentially  wrong  in  such  characters  as 
you  describe  ?  I  reply,  for  the  following  rea- 
sons : 

I  have  observed  with  much  concern,  when 
God  hath  wrought  such  a  mighty  operation  of 
grace  in  the  heart  of  a  man,  like  Newton,  that 
this  man  has  not;  upon  such  a  saving  change 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  231 

ig  wrought,  suited  the  religious  taste  of  the 
persons  just  mentioned.  They  will,  indeed, 
commend  his  external  change  of  conduct ;  but 
by  no  means  relish  his  broken  and  contrite 
spirit,  or  his  ascribing  the  change  to  free  and 
unmerited  favour,  and  his  counting  all  things 

z  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge 
of  Christ  Jesus,    as  that   Lord  who  has  thus 

led  him  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from 
the  power  of  Satan  to  God.  They  will  not  re- 
lish the  zeal  and  evangelical  strain  of  his 
preaching,  his  endeavour  to  alarm  a  stupid, 
sleeping  conscience,  to  probe  a  deceitful  heart, 
to  expose  the  wretchedness  of  the  wTorld,  and 
to  rend  the  veil  from  formality  and  hypocrisy; 
nay,  they  will  rather  prefer  some  dry  moralist, 
or  mere  formalist,  wrho,  instead  of  having  ex- 
perienced any  such  change  of  heart,  will  ra- 
ther revile  it. 

Again,  I  have  observed  a  lamentable  dispo- 
sition of  mind  in  such  persons  to  form  false 
and  unfavourable  associations.  They  will  pay 
too  much  attention  to  injurious  representa- 
tions, true  or  false,  of  a  religious  class  of  man- 
kind, whom  the  world  has  branded  with  some 
general  term  of  reproach. — Two  or  three  ig- 
norant or  extravagant  fanatics  shall  be  admit 

i  to  represent  the  religious   world  at  large. 


232  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

not  considering  how  much  such  offensive  cha- 
racters are  actually  grieving  those  whose  cause 
I  am  pleading.  No  one  indeed  can  have  lived 
long  in  society,  but  he  must  needs  have^met 
the  counterfeit  of  every  excellence. — In  the 
article  of  property,  for  instance,  who  is  not  on 
the  watch  lest  he  should  be  imposed  on  ?  And, 
while  the  love  of  property  is  so  general,  who 
is  not  studious  to  discover  the  difference  be- 
tween the  tnie  and  the  false  ?  It  will  be  so  in 
religion,  wherever  there  is  the  attention  which 
its  worth  so  imperiously  demands.  Love  has 
a  piercing  eye,  which  will  discover  its  object 
in  a  crowd.  But,  if  there  be  this  disposition 
to  confound  in  the  lump  the  precious  with  the 
vile,  it  is  symptomatic  of  something  morbid 
in  the  heart. ---We  have  reason  to  fear  a  latent 
aversion  from  vital  and  spiritual  religion,  not- 
withstanding all  the  allowance  that  can  be  made 
for  the  prevailing  prejudices  of  their  educa- 
tion and  circumstances,  in  the  persons  offend- 
ed. And  here  also,  we  cannot  but  lament  the 
effect  of  such  a  disposition  in  those  perverse 
conclusions  these  persons  are  often  observed 
to  draw  from  a  sermon.  Of  the  two  handles 
which  attach  to  every  thing,  what  must  we 
think  of  that  mind  which  is  ever  choosing  the 
wrong?  Jesus  Christ,  for  instance,  shews  how 


REV.   JOHN     NEWTON.  233 

much  the  farm,  the  oxen,  and  the  wife  i 
eame  impediments  in  the  way  of  the 
refused  his  invitation.  But  a  perverse  conclu- 
sion would  infer  that  he  was,  therefore,  an 
enemy  to  lawful  engagements.  Candour, 
however,  sees  at  a  glance  that  this  was  not  his 
design  in  speaking  the  parable.  His  drift  wras 
evidently  to  mark  the  state  and  spirit  of  the  re- 
cusants, and  not  to  discountenance  their  law- 
ful occupations. — He  meant  to  shew  that  even 
lawful  pursuits,  may  be  unlawfully  pursued, 
when  they  become  sole  objects,  and  are  thus 
preferred  to  his  inestimable  proposal.  It  is 
s  the  \ veil-  disposed  hearer  will  mark  the 
minister,  and  draw  wholesome 
nourishment  from  that  discourse  which  ano- 
ther will  turn  to  poison,  by  stopping  to  cavil 
at  the  letter. 

Another  objection  arises  from  the  affinity 
which  characters  of  this  class  have  with  "  a 
world  which  lieth  in  wickedness."  In  this 
instance  of  their  worldly  attachments,  their 
charity  will  readily  cover  a  multitude  of  sins, 
and  form  excuses  for  serious  breaches  of  both 
tables  of  the  law,  in  their  worldly  friends. 
They  appear  in  their  element  while  in  the  so- 
ciety of  these  friends,  especially  if  wealthy  and 
accomplished.  If  any  person's  ear  is  wounct- 
U2 


234  memoirs  or  the 

ed  with  a  profane  expression  from  one  of  their 
rich  or  fashionable  acquaintance,  they  are  rea- 
dy to  whisper  that,  "  notwithstanding  his  un- 
guarded language,  he  has  yet  upon  the  whole 
one  of  the  best  of  hearts." 

Yet  an  infallible  monitor  has  said   "  Know 
ye  not  that   the   friendship   of  the    world   is 
enmity  with  God  ?"     If  the  old  maxim  does 
not  always  hold  good,  that  "  a  man  is  known 
by  the  company  he  keeps,"   it  will  infallibly 
jrtand  good  if  we  add  one  word  to  it,  namely, 
that  a    man   is   known  by  the   company   he 
chooses  to  keep. — The  physician  may  be  de- 
tained in  an  infectious  chamber,  and  the  law- 
yer be  found  conversing  with  his  client  in  a 
shower  of  rain  ;  but  nobody  will  infer  from 
thence,   that  the  one  chooses  to  breathe  foul 
air,  or  that  the  other  chooses  to  be  wet  to  his 
skin.     While   the   true  Christian,   therefore, 
will  avoid  inurbanity,  fanaticism,  or  becoming 
the  dupe  of  any  religious  party,  he  will  also 
join  the  Psalmist  in  declaring  "  I  am  a  com- 
panion of  all  them  that  fear  thee,  and  of  them 
that  keep  thy  precepts." 

Again,  these  moral  and  religious  characters, 
whom  I  am  labouring  to  convince  of  their  er- 
rors, have  been  observed  to  be  more  disposed 
to  nurse,  than  to  examine  their  prejudices 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON. 

against  a  minister  of  Mr.    N.'s  principles. 
"  His  teaching,"  say  they,  "  tends  to  divide  a 
parish,  or  a  family  ;"  but  why  do  they  not  e 
amine  the  reason  ?   Why  do  they  not  consider 
that  introducing  good,  has  ever  been  the  oc- 
casion of  disturbing  evil  ?  I  recollect  a  great. 
family,  whose  servants  were  in  a  ferment,  be- 
cause one  truly  conscientious  man  was  found 
among  them.    "  He  will  spoil  the  pia*e,"  was 
their  term,   because  he  would  not  connive  at 
their  iniquity.     But  let  me  ask,    what  was  to 
be  blamed  in  this  aftair  ?  His  integrity  or  their 
corruption  ?  The  master  understood  the  case, 
and  valued  his   servant  in  proportion  as  he 
marked  the  division.     And  thus  it  is  in  reli- 
gion,  while  moving  in  a  blind  and  corrupt 
world.     Christ,  though  the   Prince  of  Peace, 
expressly  declared  that  his  doctrine  would  be 
the  occasion   of  much  division   in  the  world, 
that  he  came  not  to  send  peace,  but  a  sword, 
that  he  should  be  the  occasion  of  family  va- 
riance,   $cc.  Matt.  x.   34,  35  ;  and  warns  his 
disciples  of  what  they  must  expect  while  they 
endeavoured  faithfully  to  conduct  his  interests. 
Plain  matter  of  fact  declares,  that  to  maintain 
truth,   has  been  the  occasion  of  the  suffering 
state  of  the  true  Church  in  all  ages,  and  that 
often  unto  the  death  of  its  innumerable  mar- 


23G  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

tyrs.  But,  should  a  man  who  reads  his  Bible, 
or  has  an}'  regard  for  the  interests  of  truth, 
need  to  have  this  explained  ? 

Another  mistake  might  be  exposed,  in  the 
stale  objection,  that  such  principles  as  Mr. 
N.'s  tend  to  injure  the  interests  of  morality, 
from  his  strictly  adhering  to  the  doctrine  of 
our  eleventh  article,  on  justification  by  faith. 
I  would  hope  that  this  objection,  in  many,  ari- 
ses from  a  very  slight  acquaintance  with  the 
subject. — It  requires,  indeed,  but  little  atten- 
tion to  ma^k  how  expressly  the  Scriptures 
maintain  our  justification  on  the  sole  merit  of 
our  Redeemer,  while  they  as  fully  maintain 
the  necessity  of  our  sanctification  or  holiness 
by  his  Spirit.  It  has  been  proved  over  and  over, 
by  sound  and  incontestable  arguments,  that 
these  two  grand  fundamentals  of  our  religion 
are  so  far  from  opposing  each  other,  either  in 
Scripture  or  experience,  that  when  real,  they 
are  found  inseparable.  But,  because  this  is 
not  the  place  to  either  state  or  defend  this  doc- 
trine at  large,  it  may  help  such  as  have  hither- 
to stumbled  respecting  it,  to  observe  an  illus- 
tration and  proof  of  this  position,  in  the  mat- 
ter of  fact  just  now  presented  to  their  view. 

To    one    willing  to  learn,    I   would  say. 
What  proof  would  you  require  of  the  practi- 


KliV.    JOHN    NEWTON. 

cal  tendency  of  principles  Uke  Mr.  N.'s  ?  Wc 

bring  you,  in  his  history,  a  most  deplorable 
instance  of  human  depravity  and  deep  moral 
disorder.  What  experiment  shall  be  tried 
to  recover  this  wretched  creature  to  God  and 
to  himself? — Regard,  I  say,  the  fact  in  this 
man's  history.  You  will  find  that  his  recove- 
ry was  not  brought  about  by  such  considera- 
tions as  are  urged  in  what  are  termed  moral  or 
rational  discourses  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  by 
such  truths  as  he  laboured  throughout  his  mi- 
nistry to  establish,  not  only  from  the  Scrip- 
tures, but  from  his  own  experience  of  their  ef- 
ficacy. He  dwelt  on  truths  which  are  essen- 
tial and  peculiar  to  Christianity  :  such  as  the 
guilt  and  utter  depravity  of  our  fallen  nature, 
whereby  man  is  become  an  alien  and  apostate 
from  his  God. — His  inability  to  recover  him- 
self without  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the 
necessity  of  regeneration  by  the  same  Spirit, 
— and  of  faith  in  the  Redeemer,  not  only  as  the 
only  ground  of  his  justification  before  God, 
but  as  the  root  and  motive  of  all  acceptable 
obedience  and  good  works.  "  If  I  wanted  a 
man  to  fly,"  saiei  Mr.  N.  "  I  must  contrive  to 
find  him  wings  ;  and  thus,  If  I  would  success- 
fully enforce  moral  duties,  I  must  advance 
evangelical  motives. ' '    He  preached  truths  I 


233  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

these  constantly  and  fervently,  and  he  lived  a 
consistent  example  of  them. 

Thus  in/all  things  approving  himself  a  true 
disciple  and  minister  of  Christ,  those  who 
knew  him  know  that,  without  making  any 
odious  comparison,  it  might  be  literally  affirm- 
ed of  Mr.  N.  that  "  by  pureness,  by  know- 
ledge, by  long  suffering,  by  kindness,  by  the 
Holy  Ghost,  by  love  unfeigned,  by  the  word 
of  truth,  by  the  power  of  God,  by  the  armour 
of  righteousness  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the 
left,  his  mouth  was  opened  and  his  heart  en- 
larged towards  men . ' ' 

I  trust  it  is  from  a  pure  motive  that  I  am  en- 
deavouring to  convince  persons  of  the  class  I 
am  addressing,  of  their  mistake.  And  I  am 
the  more  induced  to  bring  a  case  in  point  be- 
fore them,  because  I  think  it  cannot  be  paral- 
leled as  an  instance  of  the  power  of  religion, 
among  those  who  labour  to  keep  up  prejudices 
against  ministers  of  Mr.  N.'s  character;  or 
who,  by  unfair  or  partiaL  statements,  strive  to 
subvert  the  doctrines  he  preached,  and  the 
OTeat  end  to  which  all  his  labours  were  direct- 
ed,  namely,  the  life  of  God  in  the  soul  of  man. 

If  indeed  any  one  "  is  willing  to  be  de- 
ceived, let  him  be  deceived."  At  least  such 
an   one    will   not   be    addressed   here.     But 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON. 

if  a  man  has    any  serious  sense  of  the  value 
of  his    soul,    of  its    lost    condition    by    sin. 
and  of  recovering  the  friendship    )f  his  God  : 
if  he    feel   the    express    declaration    in    the 
Scriptures  of  an  eternity  of  happiness  or  n 
ery   to    be    of    infinite    importance,    and   to 
which  the  weightiest  concern  in  this  perishing 
world  is  but  as  the  dust  on  the  balance — let 
such  a  one  consider  these  things.     Let  him 
inquire  whether  those  who  object  to  the  cha- 
racter and  views  of  such  a  minister  as  Mr.  N. 
labour  first  to  probe  the  state  of  their  own  hearts 
deeply,  as  he  did  ?     When  he  was  no  longer 
an  infidel,  had  renounced  his  grosser  habits, 
and  was  to  all  appearance  a  new  man  ;  "  Yet," 
says  he,    "  though  I  cannot  doubt  that  this 
change,  so  far  as  it  prevailed,  was  wrought  by 
the  Spirit  and  power  of  God,  still  I  was  great- 
ly deficient  in  many  respects.     I  was  in  some 
degree  affected  with  a  sense  of  my  more  enor- 
mous  sins,  but  I  was  little  aware  of  the  innate 
evils  of  my  heart.     I  had  no  apprehension  of 
the  spirituality  and  extent  of  the  law  of  God. 
The  hidden  life  of  a  Christian,  as  it  consists  in 
communion  with  God  by  Jesus  Christ,  and  a 
continual  dependence   upon   him  for  hourly 
supplies  of  wisdom,  strength,  and  comfort,  was 
a  mystery  of  which  I  had  as  vet  no  knowlecl 


240  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

I  acknowledged  the  Lord's  mercy  in  pardoning 
what  was  past,  but  depended  chiefly  upon  my 
own  resolution  to  do  better  for  the  time  to 
come." 

Let  the  honest  inquirer  also  consider,  whe- 
ther the  objectors  just  spoken  of,  are  observ- 
ed to  be  as  anxious  in  their  pursuits  to  serve 
God  and  propagate  his  will,  to  glorify  his  son, 
and  to  save  the  souls  of  men  ?  Whether  thev 
have  experienced  the  force  of  truth,  in  the  con- 
version of  their  own  hearts  and  lives. — Con- 
formed to  the  world  as  he  once  was,  have  they 
been  since  transformed  by  the  renewing  of 
their  minds,  as  he  at  length  became  ?  A  few 
such  questions  as  these,  well  considered,  would 
lead  to  important  discoveries.  Such  an  enqui- 
ry would  shew,  that  however  some  persons 
may  be  able  to  treat  of  the  outworks  of  revela- 
tion, as  they  may  of  any  .other  science  they 
have  studied ;  yet  for  such  to  dogmatise  on  re- 
ligion, as  it  consists  in  a  vital,  spiritual,  and 
experimental  principle,  would  be  as  absurd  as 
for  a  man  originally  deprived  of  one  of  the  five 
senses,  to  deny  the  perceptions  of  those  who 
possess  them  all.  In  short,  it  is  as  rediculous 
as  it  is  profane,  for  men  rashly  to  assert  on  reli- 
gious points*  who  evidently  appear  to  have  no- 
thing so  little  at  heart  as  the  real  influence  and 
actual  interests  of  religion. 


REV.  JOHN    KE 

Lastly,  let  nominal  Christians  seriously  con- 
sider whether  our  immortal  interests  arc  not 
much  too  important  to  be  staked  upon  a  mere 
prejudice    of   education — an    old,    undevised 
habit  of  thinking — a  taking  it  for  granted  that 
they  are  right,  when  the  event  may  awfully 
prove  the  reverse ;   and  that   too,  when  such 
errors  can  never  be  rectified  ?     The  pers< 
with  whom  I  have  been  pleading  would  p 
the  Jew  or  the  Pagan  in  such  an  error  :  J  ear 
nestly  pray  that  they  may  be  enabled  to  sev 
as  clearly  their  own  mistake,  and  not  resent 
the  admonition  of  a  real  friend  nowr  seeking  to 
prevent  it. 


III.  But  there  yet  remains  a  class  of  person^, 
found  in  the  religious  world,  who  entertain  a 
high  regard  for  Mr.  N.'s  character,  and  who 
should  gather  that  instruction  from  it  of  which 
they  appear  to  stand  in  great  need.  "  They 
should  all  take  care,"  as  he  expresses  it,  "  that 
they  do  not  make  their  profession  of  religion 
a  receipt  in  full  for  all  other  obligations."  I 
do  not  regard  this  class  as  hypocrites,  so  much 
as  self-deceivers.  They  have  a  zeal  for 
Gospel ;  but  without  a  comprehensive 
W 


242  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

of  its  nature.  They  do  not  consider  that,  in 
avoiding  error  on  the  one  hand,  they  are  plung- 
ing into  a  contrary  mistake.  Like  a  child 
crossing  a  bridge,  they  tremblingly  avoid  the 
deep  water  which  they  perceive  roaring  on  one 
side ;  and  recede  from  it,  till  they  are  ready 
to  perish  from  not  perceiving  the  danger  of 
that  which  lies  on  the  other  side. 

The  class,  of  which  I  am  here  speaking,  are 
defective  in  the  grand  article  of  a  humble  and 
contrite  spirit.  I  remember  Mr.  N.  used  to 
remark,  that  "  if  any  one  criterion  could  be 
given  of  a  real  work  of  grace  begun  in  the 
heart  of  a  sinner,  it  would  be  found  in  his  con- 
trite  spirit.' '  Nothing  is  more  insisted  on  in 
Scripture,  as  essential  to  real  religion.  I  ne- 
ver knew  any  truly  serious  Christian  but  would 
readily  join  in  acknowledging  that  "  the  reli- 
gion of  a  sinner,"  as  Mr.  N.  expresses  it, 
u  stands  on  two  pillars,  namely,  what  Christ 
did  for  us  in  his  flesh,  and  what  he  performs 
in  us  by  his  Spirit:  most  errors,"  says  .he, 
"  arise  from  an  attempt  to  separate  these  two." 
But,  as  it  was  in  the  beginning,  so  it  is  now  } 
the  enemy  comes  and  sows  tares  among  the 
wheat,  and  a  sort  of  loose  profession  has  ob- 
tained, which  has  brought  much  reproach  on 
religion,  and  become  a  cause  of  stumbling  to 


REV.    JOHN     NEWTON. 

many,  who  perceive  a  class  of  Christians  con 
tending'  for  only  a  part  of  Christianity. 

You  can  prevail  little  with  a  professor  of 
this  description,  in  exhorting  him  by  the  meek- 
ness and  gentleness  of  Christ,  to  self-denying, 
patient,  or  forbearing  habits.  If  you  state  the 
genius  of  Christ's  religion  as  it  relates  to  the 
returning  good  for  evil — in  blessing  them  that 
curse,  and  praying  for  such  as  revile  and  per- 
secute— in  shewing,  out  of  a  good  conversa- 
tion, their  works  with  meekness  of  wisdom — 
or,  in  having  a  fervent  charity  towards  all  men, 
&c.  he  is  ready  to  kindle,  and  to  cover  his 
conduct  by  a  crude  system  of  mere  doctrinal 
points,  ill  understood.  It  is  well  if  your  well- 
intended  remonstrance  does  not  lead  him  to 
ask,  "  Whether  you  mean  to  bring  him  back 
to  the  Whole  Duty  of  Man,  or  to  Nelson's 
Festivals  and  Fasts  ?  He  laments  that  you 
yourself  are  not  clear  in  the  Gospel,  because 
you  maintain  the  whole  of  it ;  and  that  you  arc 
not  faithful,  if  you  maintain  the  whole  of  it  in 
a  patient,  forbearing  spirit. 

The  views  of  such  persons,  and  the  evil 
tempers  to  which  they  give  place  in  their  spi- 
ritual warfare,  have  often  reminded  me  of  the 
shnewd  answer  which  our  Richard  the  first  sent 
to  the  Pope  j  vrZio  was  angry  because  a  c 


2U 


MEMOIRS   OF    THE 


tain  warlike  bishop  had  fallen  by  Richard  in 
battle,  and  whom,  being  an  ecclesiastic,  the 
Pope  called  his  son.  Richard  sent  the  bishop's 
armour  to  the  Pope,  with  the  words  of  Joseph's 
brethren — "  Know  now  whether  this  be  thy 
•son's  coat  or  not." 

Nothing,  however,  could  be  more  opposed 
to  the  spirit  and  character  of  our  departed  - 
friend  than  the  temper  that  has  just  been  de- 
scribed. His  zeal  in  propagating  the  truth, 
the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth, 
was  not  more  conspicuous,  than  the  tender- 
ness of  his  spirit  as  to  the  manner  of  his  main- 
taining and  delivering  it.  He  was  found  con- 
stantly speaking  the  truth  in  love,  and  in  meek- 
ness instructing  those  that  oppose  themselves, 
if  God  peradventure  would  give  them  repent- 
ance to  the  acknowledging  the  truth.  There 
was  a  gentleness,  a  candour,  and  a  forbearance 
in  him  that  I  do  not  recollect  to  have  seen  in 
an  equal  degree  among  his  brethren ;  and 
which  had  so  conciliating  an  effect,  that  men 
the  enemies  of  truth  often  spoke  loudly  in 
praise  of  his  character.  On  the  other  hand,  it 
generated  such  an  affection  in  his  friends,  that, 
had  Ive  attempted  to  preach  longer  than  he. did, 
a  great  part  of  his  congregation  would  have 


r.£V.  joiin   NE^'ig,\.  245 

gathered,   were  it  only  for  the  pleasure  the) 
had  in  seeing  his  person. 

That  this  account  is  not  panegyric,  is  known 
to  all  who  personally  knew  Mr.  N.  But,  as 
many  who  may  read  these  Memoirs  had  not 
that  pleasure,  I  will  add  the  testimony  of  one 
whose  nice  discernment  of  character  will  ad- 
mit of  no  question. 

"  A  people  will  love  a  minister,  if  a  minis- 
seems  to  love  his  people  ;  the  old  maxim 
.s'imile  agit  in  simile  is  in  no  case  more  exactly 
verified ;  therefore  you  were  beloved  at  Olney, 
and  if  you  preached  to  the  Chickesaws  and 
Chactaws,  would  be  equally  beloved  by 
them*." 

As  the  spirit  of  Christian  benevolence  and 
charity  seems  not  to  have  been  sufficiently 
cultivated  among  us,  while  a  furious  and  oftq;i 
abusive  zeal  for  certain  points,  as  Cowper  re- 
marks, has  been  substituted  for  the  whole 
truth,  I  am  led  to  dwell  longer  than  I  intended 
in  enforcing  this  amiable  feature  of  Mr.  NVjS 
character;  especially  on  account  of  those 
Christians  who  have  imbibed  a  false  taste  in 
their  religion,  from  such  teachers,  or  books, 
as  have  fallen  in  their  way.     I,  therefore,  ear* 

'  Ilayley's  Life  of  Cowper,  Letter  27. 
W2 


"246  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

nestly  request  such  persons  to  weigh  well  the 
inquiries  which  follow. 

Have  you  ever  sufficiently  considered  the 
exril  of  divisions  and  heart-burnings  in  a  church ; 
and  what  interest  that  enemy,  who  comes  to 
sow  tares  among  the  wheat,  takes  in  promo- 
ting them  ? — Do  you  reflect  that  another 
Christian  may  be  doing  God's  work,  though 
his  mode  of  doing  it  may  not  meet  your  taste, 
any  more  than  your  taste  meets  his  ? — Do  you 
consider  how  much  greater  evil  a  wrong  spirit 
and  temper  produce  than  the  things  you  ob- 
ject against  ? — Do  you  weigh  the  consequen- 
ces of  yowr  haste  ift  weakening  the  hands,  and 
grieving  the  heart  of  any  godly  minister,  whom 
you  constantly  or  occasionally  attend ;  and  in 
actually  laying  a  stumbling  block  in  the  way 
of  the  ungodly,  while  you  depreciate  him  and 
his  services?  Nothing  affected  that  eminent 
character,  Mr.  Cadogan,  like  what  he  met 
from  some  religious  persons  of  this  kind,  as 
f  have  related  from  his  own  lips,  in  his  Me- 
moirs*. 

Let  me  further  exhort  such  as  are  in  danger 

from  this  unchastised  spirit  to  consider,  how 

much  corrupt  nature  is  at  the  bottom  of  this 

error?  Corrupt  nature  frets  and  rages  at  a#y 

•*  See  Memoirs  of  Cadogan?  p,  39. 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  247 

•posed  contradiction  or  restraint;  it  would 
substitute  the  work  of  the  tongue  for  that  of 
the  heart  :  in  the  mean  time,  real  religion  is 
scorned  by  the  world,  which  cannot  distin- 
guish between  a  thing  so  deformed,  and  the 
thing  as  it  ought  to  appear. 

Consider  also,  whether  there  needs  any 
grace  at  all  in  order  to  maintain  such  a  sort  of 
profession  ?  We  require  only  to  christen  the 
evil  passions  of  corrupt  nature,  and  then  may 
call  names,  hate,  boast,  and  give  ourselves  the 
preference,  as  much  as  any  ungodly  man  what- 
ever! A  zealot  at  an  election  can  fight,  and 
strive  for  his  favourite  candidate :  with  in- 
flamed zeal  he  can  cause  divisions,  exhibit 
pride,  self-will,  and  impatience  cf  subordina- 
tion ;  but  let  me  ask,  will  the  same  evil  tem- 
pers change  their  nature  because  they  are  em- 
ployed about  spiritual  objects  ? 

Much  blame  attaches  too,  respecting  cer- 
tain disputable  points  for  which  such  persons 
strive.  It  seems  as  if  some,  who  are  other- 
wise good  men,  did  not  relish  the  Bible  till 
they  had  garbled  and  selected  it ;  and  that,  if 
the  whole  were  not  of  acknowledged  authori- 
ty, they  would  condemn  it  as  it  now  stands. 
They  speak  as  if  it  were  not  accurate  in  its 
terms,  or  sufficiently  express  or  decisive  m 


248  MEMOIRS    ©F    XHJB 

confirming  their  fond  opinions.     This  leads 
them  to  be  shy  of  some  parts  of  revelation,  and 
to  distort  others,  in  order  to  fit  them  for  their 
system  ;    and  while  contending  for  that  sys- 
tem, they  appear  to  forget  the  stress  which  the 
Apostle  lays  upon  the  holy,  humble,  self-de- 
nying, affectionate  spirit  of  Christianity,  in  1 
Con  xiii.   how  gentle  it  is !   how  easy  to  be 
entreated  !   how  it  hopeth  and   endureth  all 
things,  &c.    While,  on  the  contrary,  they  who 
can  speak  with  the  tongues  of  men  and  of  an- 
gels, who  have  all  knowledge,  who  can  work 
miracles,  and  even  die  martyrs,  would,  with- 
out this  distinguishing  characteristic  of  Chris- 
tianity, be  considered  of  God  as  NOTHING* 
The  Old  Testament  dispensation,  it  is  grant- 
ed, had  a  severe  aspect,  apd  special  occasions 
may  be  pleaded  for  special  expressions  of  holy 
indignation  under  any  dispensation  ;  but,  when 
the  Prophet  describes  the  brighter  day,  he 
foretells  that  then  the  wolf  shall  dwell  with 
the  lamb,   Sec.  as  emblematical  of  the  preva- 
lence of  that  grace  described  by  the  Apostljp 
in  the  chapter  just  quoted.     Hold,  therefore^ 
the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints  as  firmly 
-as  possible,  but  hold  it  in  love.    Buy  the  truthi 
and  sell  it  not — rather  die  for  it,  than  part  witfo 
ft — but  speak  it  in  love ;  and  walk  in  it  gs 


KLV.    JOHN     NEWTON.  249 

Christ  also  walked,  ever  remembering  that 
"  the  wrath  of  man  worketh  not  the  righteous- 
ness of  God." 

I  feel  conscious  that  it  is  simply  with  a  view 
to  convince  many  well-meaning  Christians  of 
their  error  (and  I  have  found  more  or  less  of 
this  class  in  almost  every  place  where  I  have 
been)  that  I  thus  speak.  If  a  gross  superstition 
arising  in  the  church,  perverted  the  Christia- 
nity of  former  ages ;  I  wish  I  may  mistake  in 
supposing,  that  a  loose  and  unscriptural  profes- 
sion is  widely  spreading  as  the  bane  of  our 
age.  Against  such  a  departure  from  the  true 
genius  of  Christianity,  I  certainly,  as  a  minis- 
ter of  Christ,  ought  to  bear  my  feeble  testi- 
mony. Consider,  therefore,  that  what  is  said 
is  with  a  single  view  to  your  best  interests ; 
and  the  Lord  give  you  understanding  in  all 
things. 

As  I  referred  the  Christians,  who  were  last 
addressed,  to  the  character  of  Mr.  N.  as  an 
example,  so  I  never  knew  a  more  perfect  one 
to  my  purpose. — When  any  person  deprecia- 
ted the  ministry  of  a  good  man,  who,  by  ad- 
vancing important  truths,  was  opposing  the 
reigning  errors  of  the  times  ;  but  who  from  ti- 
midity or  prejudice  was  shy  of  Mr.  N.  he 
would  imitate  his  divine  Master  by  say i; 


250  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

v  fi  Let  him  alone,  he  that  is  not  against  us  is 
on  our  side. — Make  no  man  an  offender  for  a 
word. — He  is  doing  good,  according  to  his 
-views. — Let  us  pray  for  him,  and  by  no 
means  weaken  his  hands. — Who  knows  but 
God  may  one  day  put  him  far  above  our  heads, 
both  in  knowledge  and  usefulness?" 

His  grand  point,  in  a  few  words,  as  he  used 
to  express  it,  was,  "  To  break  a  hard  heart, 
and  to  heal  a  broken  heart." — To  implant  the 
life  of  God  in  the  soul  of  man,  he  would  sa- 
crifice every  subordinate  consideration.  He 
felt  every' other  consideration  comparatively 
insignificant.  He  saw  the  spirit  of  ancient 
Pharisaism  working  among  those  who  cry  out 
the  most  against  it — who  exact  to  a  scruple, 
in  the  tythe  of  mint,  anise,  and  cummin  of 
their  own  peculiarities,  while  they  pass  over 
the  weightier  matters  of  unity  and  love — 
straining  at  the  knat  of  a  private  opinion,  and 
swallowing  the  camel  of  a  deadly  discord. 
On  the  contrary,  as  far  as  order  and  circum- 
stances would  admit,  Mr.  N.  clave  to  every 
good  man,  and  endeavoured  to  strengthen  his 
hands,  in  whatever  denomination  of  Chris- 
tians he  was  found.  His  character  well  illus- 
trated the  Scripture,  that  though  scarcely  for 
a  righteous  (or  just)  man  would  one  die,  yet 


REV.    JOHN"     NKWTON.  25] 

for  a  good  man  (i.  c.  one  eminent  for  his  can- 
dour and  benevolence)  some  would  even  dare 
to  die.  However  they  admired  some  minis- 
ters,  they  all  loved  him  ;  and  saw  exemplified 
in  him  that  wisdom  is  from  above, — which  is 
first  pure,  then  peaceable,  gentle  and  easy  to 
be  intreatcd,  full  of  mercy  and  good  fruits, 
without  partiality,  and  without  hypocrisy. 

I  conclude  these  Memoirs  with  a  word  to 
such  as  are  endeavouring  to  follow  the  steps 
of  their  late  faithful  friend,   as  he   followed 
Christ.     We  cannot  but  lament   the  errors, 
just  described.     We  cannot,  if  we  have  any 
zeal  for  the  Gospel,  but  protest  against  them. 
But  let  us  recollect  that  they  are  not  the  only 
errors  which  are  found  in  the   Church  ;  and 
therefore  let  us  watch  lest  any  other  root  of 
bitterness  spring  up  to  trouble  us,  and  defile 
many.     While  you  lament  with  me  the  remo- 
val of  ministers  like  Mr.  N.,  let  us  recollect 
that  eternal  friend,   who  will  never  leave  hi£ 
Church  without  witnesses  to  the  truth :  and 
who,  among  other  reasons  for  removing  earth- 
ly helps,   teaches  us  thereby  to  rest  only  on 
that  help  which  cannot  be  removed.     Let  us 
take  comfort  too  in  recollecting,   that  spotted 
as  the  Church  may  appeal-  from  the  inconsis. 
tencies  of  many  of  its  members,  yet  all  the  reSft 


252     (  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

good  that  is  to  be  found  in  this  corrupt  world, 
is  to  be  found  in  that  Church. — God  saw  se- 
ven thousand  true  believers  in  Israel,  while 
his  prophet  could  see  but  one. — Where  some 
Jehu  is  sounding  a  trumpet  before  him,  many 
are  quietly  passing  to  Heaven  without  any 
such  clamour.  As  a  great  writer  remarks, 
"  Because  half  a  dozen  grasshoppers  under  a 
fern  make  the  field  ring  with  their  importunate 
chink,  while  thousands  of  great  cattle  chew 
the  cud  and  are  silent,  pray  do  not  imagine 
that  those  who  make  the  noise,  are  i  the  only 
'inhabitants  of  the  field.'  " 

But  I  must  remark,  that  nothing  has  been 
more  profitable  to  myself  in  considering  Mr. 
N.'s  life,  than  the  exhibition  it  makes  of  a  par- 
ticular Providence.  If  the  Church  be  not  con- 
ducted  by  such  visible  signs  now,  as  former- 
ly, it  is  found  to  be  as  actually  conducted. 
We  read  of  a  divine  hand  concerned  in  the  fall 
of  sparrows,  in  numbering  the  hairs  of  our 
head,  and  in  raising  our  dust  to  life  ;  but  with 
what  little  interest  we  read  this,  appears  by 
our  distrust  in  the  first  trial  we  meet.  If  we  ^ 
do  not  dare  to  join  the  sentiments  of  some., 
who  regard  such  expressions  as  purely  figura- 
tive and  hyperbolical ;  yet  our  imagination  is 
so  overwhelmed  with  the  difficulty  of  the  per- 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTON.  253 

gprmance,  that  we  are  apt  to  turn  from  the  sub- 
ject, with  some  general  hope,  but  with  a  very 
indistinct  and  vague  idea  of  a  God  at  hand, 
faithful  to  his  promise,  and  almighty  to  deli- 
ver. Yet,  how  many  cases  occur  in  the  his- 
tory of  every  one  of  us,  where  nothing  short 
of  an  Almighty  arm  could  prove  a  present 
help  in  the  time  of  trouble. 

Now  this  short  history  before  us,  is  admira- 
bly calculated  to  encourage  our  faith  and  hope, 
when  we  are  called  to  pass  through  those  deep 
waters  that  seem  to  bid  defiance  to  human 
strength  and  contrivance.  What,  for  instance, 
but  a  divine  interference  caused  Mr.  N.  to  be 
roused  from  sleep  on  board  the  Harwich  at 
the  moment  of  exchanging  men,  and  thereby 
effected  his  removal  ? — What  placed  him  in  a 
situation  so  remarkably  suited  to  his  recover- 
ing the  ship  which  had  already  passed  the 
place  of  his  station  in  Africa,  and  brought 
him  back  to  his  country  ? — What  kept  him 
from  returning  in  the  boat  that  was  lost  at  Rie 
Cestors  ? — Or  from  the  ship  that  was  blown 
up  near  Liverpool  ? — Not  to  mention  many 
other  of  his  special  deliverances. 

"  I  am  a  wonder  unto  many,"  says  he,  in 
the  motto  of  his  Narrative  ;  and,  if  we  as  dis- 
tinctly considered  the  strange  methods  of  m$r 

X 


254  MEMOIRS    Of    THE 

cy  which  have  occurred  in  our  own  cases,  \ 
should  at  least  be  a  wonder  to  ourselves.  But 
my  aim  is  to  point  out  the  use  we  should 
make  of  these  Memoirs  in  this  respect.  We 
should,  as  Christians,  mark  the  eiror  of  de- 
spair.— We  should  see  that  the  case  of  a  pray- 
ing man  cannot  be  desperate — that  if  a  man 
be  out  of  the  pit  of  hell,  he  is  on  the  ground 
of  mercy. — We  should  recollect  that  God  sees 
a  way  of  escape  when  we  see  none — that  no- 
thing is  too  hard  for  him — -that  he  warrants 
our  dependance,  and  invites  us  to  call  on  him 
in  the  day  of  trouble,  and  gives  a  promise  of 
deliverance. — We  should,  therefore,  in  every 
trial,  adopt  the  language  of  Mr.  N.'s  favourite 
Herbert : 

"  Away  Despair :  my  gracious  Lord  doth  hear  ; 

1  hough  winds  and  waves  assault  my  keel, 

He  doth  preserve  it ;  he  doth  steer, 

Ev'n  when  the  boat  seems  most  to  reel ; 

Storms  are  the  triumph  of  his  art : 
Well  may  he  close  his  eyes2  but  not  his  heart.5' 

From  these  facts  we  should  see  that  Christ 
is  able,  not  only  to  save  to  the  uttermost  all 
that  come  unto  God  by  him ;  but  also  that 
he  is  able  to  bring  the  most  hardened  blasphe- 
\iaer  and  abject  slave  from  his  chains  of  sin  and 


TlLV.   JOHN    NEWTON.  255 

uiscry,  to  stand  in  the  most  honourable  and 
nscful  station,  and  proclaim  to  the  wretched 
and  to  the  ruined,  the  exceeding  riches  of  his 
grace.  I  have  observed  from  my  own  expe- 
rience as  well  as  from  that  of  others,  how 
strong  a  hold  Satan  builds  by  despair.  The 
pressing  fascinations  of  the  world,  the  secret 
invitations  of  sensuality,  and  the  distant  pros- 
pect  of  eternal  things,  form  a  powerful  current 
against  vital  religion.  The  heart  of  a  Chris- 
tian is  ready  to  sink  whenever  these  proud  wa- 
ters rise.  Let  him,  therefore,  recollect,  that 
his  hope,  his  only  hope,  is  in  pressing  right 
onward  through  a  world  of  lies  and  vanity — 
that  his  present  dispensation  is  the  walk  of 
faith,  and  not  of  sight — and  that  by  two  im- 
mutable things  in  which  it  is  impossible  for 
God  to  lie,  he  has  given  strong  consolation 
to  such  as  flee  for  refuge  to  the  hope  set  be- 
fore him. 

One  could,  indeed,  scarcely  conjecture  that 
cases  like  Mr.  N.'s  should  be  so  perverted  by 
any  of  our  children,  as  that  they  should  take 
confidence  in  their  sins  from  his  former  course 
of  life ;  but,  because  such  facts,  as  I  am  cre- 
dibly informed,  do  exist,  let  us  be  upon  the 
watch  to  counteract  this  deep  device  of  the 
great  enemy. 


256  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 

My  dear  young  friends,  who  may  have  read 
these    Memoirs,    perhaps    merely    for    your 
amusement,   consider  with  what  a  contrary 
design  St.  Paul  states  his  former  unrenewed 
condition  :   "  I  was,"  says  he,  "  before  a  blas- 
phemer, a  persecutor  and  injurious — but,  for 
this    cause   I    obtained   mercy." — For   what 
cause  ?     Was  it  that  men  should  continue  in 
sin  because   a  miracle  of  special   grace  has 
been  wrought  ?  To  do  evil  that  good  may 
come,  is  the  black  mark  of  a  reprobate  mind. 
— But  for  this  cause,  saith  the  Apostle,  I  ob- 
tained mercy,   that  in  me  first  Jesus   Christ 
might  shew  forth  all  long  suffering,  for  a  pat- 
tern   to  them   who  should   hereafter  believe 
in  him  to  life  everlasting.     The  same  caution 
is  necessary  whenever  you  may  be  tempted  to 
hope  for  such  a  recovery  as   Mr.   N.'s,   after 
erring  like   him.     To  proceed  upon  suclTa 
hope  is  a  gross  presumption.    Thousands  pe- 
rish in  wrong  courses,   for  one  who  escapes 
from  their  natural  consequences.    Pray,  there- 
fore,  that  vou  mav  be  enabled  to  resist  the 
temptation  of  perverting  such  extraordinary 
cases.     God  affords  them  to  be  a  savour  of 
life  unto  life,  while  Satan  would  employ  them 
to  be  a  savour  of  death  unto  death.     One  Al- 
mighty to  save,   affords  you  here,  indeed,  an 


REV.   JOHN    NEWTi 

instance  of  special  mercy,  which  gives  you 
the  strongest  encouragement  in  setting  your 
faces  towards  his  kingdom  ;  and  this  is  the 
proper  use  to  be  made  of  such  a  case. 

Your  parents,  your  most  disinterested  friends, 
anxiously  watching  for  your  good  ;  and 
y,  perhaps,  have  put  this  book  into  your 
hand  with  a  view  of  promoting  it.  The  au- 
thor has  cause  to  thank  God  who  put  it  into 
the  heart  of  his  pious  parent  to  make  a  simi- 
lar attempt,  and  bless  it  with  success  ;  and  he 
could  tell  of  more  such  instances.  May  it 
please  God  that  you  may  be  added  to  the  nuiru 
ber ! 

Worldly  prosperity  would  rather  hurt  than 
help  you  before  your  minds  become  rightly 
directed.  Mr.  N.  shews  us  (p.  69,)  that  his 
firmest  friend  could  not  have  served  him,  had 
not  God  first  prepared  his  mind  for  the  ad- 
vancement. An  enemy  wrould  occupy  your 
minds  with  perishing  objects ;  but  God  calls 
you  to  cultivate  nobler  views.  He  proposes 
glory,  honour,  immortality,  and  eternal  life 
bv  the  Gospel. — Seek,  therefore,  first  the 
Kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness,  and 
all  other  things  shall  be  added  unto  you. 

FINIS. 


v.  ftmiVIER,  PRINTER. 


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